• Recap
• Bleachers

James, Cavaliers rout Maccabi Tel Aviv

Oct 18, 2006 - 1:48 AM CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Maccabi Tel Aviv was looking for another win on an NBA floor. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers did not let it happen.

James flirted with a triple-double and the Cavaliers used a big third quarter to pull away for a 93-67 exhibition victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Maccabi Tel Aviv has a strong international reputation, winning consecutive Euroleague titles before losing the championship game to CSKA Moscow last season. A year ago, they stunned the basketball world by beating the Toronto Raptors in an exhibition game at the Air Canada Centre.

The Israeli squad was a big part of NBA Europe Live earlier this month, although without much success. They lost games to San Antonio and Phoenix and also fell to CSKA Moscow.

However, this may have been Maccabi's worst effort. It managed just nine points in the third quarter and 27 in the second half as it was run off the Quicken Loans Arena floor by the "James Gang."

James sat out the entire fourth quarter but still managed 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. He sparked a third quarter that saw the Cavaliers make 9-of-13 shots and widen a 15-point halftime lead to 78-49.

Drew Gooden had 21 points and eight rebounds and Donyell Marshall added 19 and 10 for the Cavs, who shot 52 percent (37-of-71) and held Maccabi to 36 percent (26-of-73).

Rodney Buford scored 19 points and fellow former NBA player Will Bynum added 13 for Maccabi, which visits Toronto on Thursday before returning home.