NBA: Cavs squeak past Clippers behind Jamison's 27

In a battle between two teams missing starting guards, the Kyrie Irving-less Cleveland Cavaliers upset the Los Angels Clippers, who were without Chauncey Billups, 99-92, Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time).

 

With the game deadlocked at 40-all at the break, Cavaliers Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson teamed up to score the half's first seven points, getting the jump on the Clippers. 

 

LA was able to tie the game twice in the fourth, at 73-73 after Reggie Evans free throws, and then at 87-all on Chris Paul charities, 2:10 left in the game. 

 

Once again, Gibson provided separation, hitting a triple off a Ramon Sessions assist. Sessions then hit two charities of his own, to give Cleveland a five-point buffer with under a minute left. 

 

Another trip to the line for Paul, plus an and-one play by Griffin still kept the Clippers in it, despite only 16 seconds left on the clock. Unfortunately for them, Cleveland hit 5 of their last 6 charities when LA was forced to foul, providing just enough separation to get the "W."

 

Jamison's 27 powered the Cavs, as the veteran forward added eight boards, three assists and a block as well. Sessions, starting in place of Irving, who was out with a concussion, added a double-double of 24 points and 13 assists. 

 

In their first game since Chauncey Billups was ruled out for the season with an Achilles injury, the Clippers got 25 points from Blake Griffin and 21 from Caron Butler. Chris Paul also provided 16 markers and 12 of the team's 20 assists. 

 

Kenyon Martin, making his first NBA appearance after spending an extended part of the season playing in China, played 20 minutes for the Clippers, finishing with six points and four rebounds. 

 

The loss put the Clippers at 15-8, two games ahead of their division and city rivals, the LA Lakers. Cleveland on the other hand, improved to 10-14, enough for the 10th seed in the East. — Adrian Dy/RSJ, GMA News