CLEVELAND _ In a game featuring two banged-up teams, LeBron James registered his third triple-double of the season, and the Cavaliers _ on the second night a back-to-back _ staved off a fourth-quarter charge from the Philadelphia 76ers to pull out a 105-98 win Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavs (19-8), playing without Kevin Love _ a late scratch because of left hip soreness _ kept the depleted-on-paper 76ers at bay for the most of the night. Eventually, though, the 76ers' barrage finally caught up to the Cavs, setting up a back-and-forth fourth quarter that James took over en route to the 58th triple-double of his career.
In the first minute of the fourth, Robert Covington nailed a 3-pointer to tie it at 78-78. James answered with a 3-pointer, but it came moments before J.J. Redick poured in eight consecutive points.
Cedi Osman fouled Redick from behind the arc, giving one of the best shooters in the game three free points to again tie it. The next time down the floor, Redick nailed a 3-pointer, giving the 76ers (13-12) their first lead since early in the first quarter, when they opened the game with a 7-0 run.
But the Cavs fought back. With 4:26 left, James muscled his way to the basket for a layup and completed the and-one to make it 96-94. The next time down the floor, James used a nifty bounce pass to find Kyle Korver in the corner, and Korver proceeded to bury the 3 to put the Cavs ahead, 97-96. After a 76ers miss, James fed Dwyane Wade for an easy dunk and a 99-96 advantage.
The final nail was delivered by Jae Crowder, who hit a 3-pointer to make it 104-98 with a minute to go after James found him wide open.
James finished with 30 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. Jeff Green, Wade and Korver all finished with 13 points. Crowder added 12 and five rebounds.
The Cavs took the court without both Love and Tristan Thompson, who missed his 19th consecutive game with a left calf strain. Rookie Ante Zizic started in Love's place, but didn't last long. Zizic was on the floor for just five minutes, as the Cavs spent much of the night with a smaller-than-normal lineup.
The 76ers were without a slew of key contributors _ Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz and T.J. McConnell.
The Cavs now have two days off before a home game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.
