LeBron James scored 47 points but was whistled for a foul with two-tenths of a second to play to set up the winning points for Indiana as the Pacers edged Cleveland 96-95 today.
LeBron James scored 47 points but was whistled for a foul with two-tenths of a second to play to set up the winning points for Indiana as the Pacers edged Cleveland 96-95 today.
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The Cavaliers fell to 39-11 with their second National Basketball Association loss in a row when Danny Granger sank a free throw after being sent to the line when fouled by James as he tried to sink an alley-oop layup.
On the prior possession with just four-tenths of a second remaining, Granger had been whistled for a near-identical foul on James, who sank both free throws to pull the Cavaliers level at 95-95.
The Cavaliers, who suffered their first home loss of the season on Sunday to the NBA-leading Los Angeles Lakers, joined the Lakers, Orlando and NBA reigning champion Boston as upset victims of the last-place Pacers this season.
Indiana improved to 21-32, 19 games behind Cleveland in the Central division, with 18 points and 15 rebounds from Troy Murphy and 16 points from Granger.
Granger sank a 3-pointer to pull Indiana ahead 91-84 with 2:18 remaining but James answered with a 3-pointer, added two free throws and made a key set-up pass on Wally Szczerbiak's equalizer at 93-93 with 20 seconds to play.
T J Ford sank a jumper for Indiana with eight-tenths of a second to play to set up the final drama.
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