James scores 41 as Cleveland beats Bulls
Some days only so much can be blamed on a team's injuries.
The Bulls were down two starters Saturday night against Cleveland, but there was no chance the sum of the missing parts would equal LeBron James.
James rang up his second 41-point performance in four days against the Bulls. This one included 16 points in the fourth quarter and a pair of backbreaking 3-point baskets in the final two minutes.
The Bulls gave a strong effort but suffered a 106-97 loss at the United Center.
"There were a lot of teams we could have beat tonight if they didn't have a guy making shots like that," Bulls forward Luol Deng said. "We're playing hard. I think everybody can see it compared to last year."
The game was preceded by news that guard Kirk Hinrich is expected to be out three months after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb. Surgery has been scheduled for Tuesday. Drew Gooden (sprained ankle) also sat out against the Cavs.
"In my mind, it's probably going to be after the all-star break that Kirk is available," said Bulls general manager John Paxson. "That's a lot of games between now and then. That's a tough one to digest."
Saturday's loss wasn't easy for the home team, either. After leading by 10 in the third quarter, the Bulls (3-4) watched helplessly as James led the Cavaliers on a 15-0 run to begin the fourth.
"It's frustrating. Every time you look up, he hits a key shot," said Ben Gordon, who led the Bulls with 29 points. "With LeBron you kind of expect that."
After trailing 94-81 with 6:14 left, the Bulls battled back to within 96-94 after Gordon finished a driving bank shot with 2:15 on the clock. The Cavs (5-2) had been isolating James on the pick-and-roll with Anderson Varejao.
But on the next trip, they decided to keep taller help defender Joakim Noah away from the ball and have guard Mo Williams set the screen for James.
Deng and Derrick Rose backed off, and James ended up getting two relatively open looks. The second 3-pointer put the Cavs ahead 102-96 with 1:28 left and the game essentially was over.
James is quickly turning into one of the league's most avid showboaters. He celebrated most of his baskets like he was just elected mayor of Akron.
"I love the game of basketball," he said. "And when I can come into a building like this and make shots at the end and take the crowd out, that's what makes me smile out there."
Hinrich's injury occurred during the third quarter of Friday's win over Phoenix when he tried to swipe the ball from the hands of forward Amare Stoudemire.
"It just felt like I kind of hyperextended it," Hinrich described. "I was going home thinking maybe a couple of days and it would feel better.
"I was just kind of shocked when I found out today that I had torn the ligament. I've never had to sit out this length of time, never had surgery."
Hinrich's injury brought Gordon into the starting lineup for the first time this season. Coach Vinny Del Negro said the Cavaliers' small backcourt made that decision possible and that things could change when the Bulls see Atlanta's Joe Johnson on Tuesday.