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James' 41-point outburst helps Cavaliers edge Pistons

Mar 8, 2007 - 6:53 AM AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Superstar LeBron James finally got over his Motown blues.

James scored 41 points to lead four starters in double figures as the Cleveland Cavaliers posted a 101-97 overtime triumph over the Detroit Pistons.

Drew Gooden collected 22 points and 10 rebounds and Zydrunas Ilgauskas chipped in 14 and 10 for Cleveland, which picked up its first win against Detroit in six games.

James continues to be a major force of late, scoring at least 32 points in his last five games. It was the All-Star's first 40-point outburst since dropping 47 on April 1 against Miami.

A 6-8 forward, James connected on 17-of-31 shots and handed out eight assists. He also had seven rebounds and three steals.

In the extra session, Ilgauskas drained an 18-footer to break a 95-95 tie and Gooden scored on a two-handed jam with 2:31 remaining. Detroit pulled within 99-97 on two free throws by Richard Hamilton one minute later.

After forcing the Cavs into a 24-second shot-clock violation, the Pistons had a chance to tie the game, but Chauncey Billups missed a reverse layup with 22 seconds to play.

Detroit had a chance to send the contest into another OT after James hit 1-of-2 foul shots, but Rasheed Wallace misfired from the arc and Anderson Varejao split a pair of free throws to seal the win.

With Cleveland trailing by one point in regulation, James scored on a spinning floater in the lane for a 91-90 bulge with 27 seconds left. But Hamilton converted a three-point play eight seconds later to regain the lead, 93-91.

James responded with a two-handed jam with five seconds left, tying the game once again. James hit a deep 3-pointer as time expired, but it was wiped away following a review by officials.

Hamilton scored 29 points and Chris Webber added 20 and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who shot 43 percent (30-of-69) from the floor and have lost three of their last four games.

Wallace returned after missing the last three games with a strained left foot, going just 3-of-8 for seven points in 38 minutes.

Earlier Wednesday, Pistons reserve guard Lindsay Hunter was suspended for 10 games without pay after testing positive for amphetamines.

"I took a diet pill and it had a banned substance in it. I was just as shocked as everybody else," Hunter said. "You go to GNC, you do this, you do that and to me it wasn't a big deal. It wasn't steroids or nothing. I'm not any bigger than I was. It is what it is."