NBA Scores Eastern Conference Playoffs: LeBron James Lifts Cleveland Cavaliers Past Detroit Pistons for 3-0 Series Lead

LeBron James scored 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 9 assists, Joe Smith added 19 points and 10 boards and Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 13 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers knocked off the Detroit Pistons 79-68 on Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series.

Detroit came out looking like they had a sense of urgency as they jumped to a quick 8-0 advantage in the first two minutes but they would only score ten more points the rest of the frame and the Cavaliers, aided by 10 points from Ilgauskas, survived the slow start and were tied 18-18 at the end of the frame. The Pistons buried a pair of three-pointers to start the second but they would hit another lull and with the game knotted at 31-31 the Cavaliers went on a 9-0 run to build a cushion and they settled for a 44-37 lead at the break.

It was the Cavaliers who suffered a scoring collapse in the third as a nearly eight minute drought opened the door for the Pistons and they managed to move in front 49-46 but over the final four minutes Detroit would score just two points and Cleveland had the game tied at 5-53 heading into the fourth. With the game tied at 58-58 Joe Smith buried a three-pointer that started an 18-2 run that buried Detroit in a 76-60 hole that they couldn’t escape.

Both teams struggled from the floor as the Cavaliers shot 41 percent on the night while the Pistons hit just 38 percent of their shots.