NBA Capsules: James, Williams lead Cavaliers over Mavs 111-95
CLEVELAND — Mo Williams doesn't mind being forgotten, lost in the gargantuan shadows cast by his superstar teammates.
LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal can have all the attention.
Williams just wants a taste now and then. He got some Saturday night.
Williams made all seven of his 3-point attempts and scored 25 points, James added 25 with 12 assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounded from a lackluster loss in Charlotte by beating the road-tested Dallas Mavericks 111-95.
One night after misfiring on six 3s, Williams was perfect.
"That last couple games I think I was 2-for-15," Williams said. "I made the first couple and it felt pretty good. I never feel uncomfortable from behind the line and tonight was one of those nights."
Anderson Varejao scored 15 — 13 in the second half — on 7-of-7 shooting for the Cavs, who were beaten 94-87 by the Bobcats on Friday in O'Neal's return after missing six games with a shoulder injury. Cleveland also got a huge boost from troubled guard Delonte West.
West, who played just over two minutes on Friday and has been ineffective recently while dealing with personal and health issues, added 10 points and 10 rebounds in a season-high 29 minutes.
"He was awesome," James said of West. "Delonte is one of those guys who can not play for seven or eight straight games, come back in and it looks like he never missed a beat. I don't know how he does it. We have certain guys in this league who can do that, and he's one of them."
Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 and Jason Terry 25 for Dallas, which was denied its sixth straight road win. The Mavericks were outrebounded 39-24 and didn't play enough defense.
"That's what lost us the game," Nowitzki said. "We scored almost 100, which is enough sometimes to win on the road, but we couldn't get any stops. We gave up too many layups. Once you get all layups, everybody starts feeling good about themselves.
"The basket gets bigger. Mo Williams was on fire. Varejao didn't even miss one."
O'Neal was back in the Cavs' lineup on Friday, but Shaq's comeback only bogged down Cleveland's offense, which was out of sync and struggled while trying to incorporate him back into the flow. O'Neal scored only 9 points in 25 minutes but his presence alone bothered the undersized Mavericks, who were without Josh Howard and Erick Dampier.
Cleveland ran many of its offensive sets through O'Neal, who drew double-teams and kicked the ball to the perimeter. The Cavs' ball movement was crisp and they knocked down their 3s, making 9 of 13 attempts one night after going just 6-of-21 from long range.
Williams was 2-of-8 on 3s in Charlotte, but back on his home floor, Cleveland's guard barely rippled the nets while bombarding the Mavericks.
Although an All-Star, Williams is sometimes overlooked because of James and O'Neal. He has no problem being third class.
"I like being under the radar," he said. "I like being the silent assassin. I don't need all the pub(licity)."
Williams hit five 3s in the first half, when the Cavaliers' offense ran as smoothly as it has at any point this season — by far. Cleveland was 7-for-8 from long range, shot 68 percent from the field, posted a season-high for points (68) in a half and handed out 23 assists — 9 more than the Cavaliers had in 48 minutes on Friday — on 26 baskets.
But despite the offensive efficiency, the Cavs didn't put the Mavericks away until late in the fourth quarter. Leading by 11, James scored on an alley-oop off an inbound pass, Williams hit a jumper and James scored on a drive as Cleveland opened a 106-88 lead with 4:08 left.
About the only thing missing for Cleveland was center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. He didn't play and remains tied with Cavs general manager Danny Ferry (723) for the most games played in team history.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was upset with his team's effort coming off impressive road wins.
"I love the way we played in Houston and Indiana, but this was a stinker," Carlisle said. "We needed to be better defensively, simple as that."
NOTES: James had eight assists in the first quarter and 11 by halftime. ... James or Kobe Bryant? Carlisle wouldn't want to make the choice. "I might flip a coin," he said. "They're both great. Right now in this league they're the best of the best. They both not only are great players, they both have great charisma and they both represent out league extremely well. I'd gladly take a blindfold and pick a name and I'd be happy." ... Dallas has lost four straight to Cleveland. ... Dallas' 24 rebounds matched a franchise low.
AP Source: Iverson retirement may be brief
PHILADELPHIA — Allen Iverson is talking about a comeback. And the Philadelphia 76ers are at least discussing the idea of bringing back their former franchise superstar.
A person with knowledge of the talks says the Sixers have been approached about signing the recently retired guard, and team management has held internal discussions about bringing Iverson back.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because talks have not been made public, says Iverson is among the free-agent candidates the Sixers are considering to replace injured point guard Lou Williams, who's expected to miss eight weeks after jaw surgery.
"I think we would look at all the options for sure, but nothing has really happened," Peter Luukko, COO of Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the 76ers and Flyers, told The Associated Press. "We have had no formal discussions."
With no apparent interest from NBA teams, Iverson announced his plan to retire this week. His statement read more like a job pitch for a playoff contender rather than a final farewell.
Iverson said he planned to retire, but also stated that "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level."
The statement also said Iverson has tremendous love for the game and the desire to play, adding there is "a whole lot left in my tank."
He could find out how much in Philadelphia, where he spent the first 10-plus seasons of his career.
The 10-time All-Star was NBA MVP in 2001 when he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1996 draft and became a global star with his all-out play — and a major headache with his rants about practice and run-ins with former coach Larry Brown. He made "talking' about practice" part of the sports lexicon.
Fed up with losing and his relationship with former coach Maurice Cheeks irrevocably broken, Iverson wanted out in 2006 and he was traded to the Denver Nuggets. He played for Denver until early last season when he was traded to Detroit.
Brown, now coaching the Charlotte Bobcats, said it would be great to see Iverson reunited with the Sixers.
"I just want to see him back in the league. He's loved in Philly," Brown said before the Bobcats played at Washington. "He did a phenomenal job for that franchise. If you look at games now, they're not nearly as exciting. There's not as many people at the games. We need him in the league."
The 6-foot Iverson played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.
Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, and 76ers team president Ed Stefanski did not immediately return messages for comment.
Iverson would find a Sixers team in the same mediocre shape he left it amid squabbles with management. The Sixers have lost five straight and are 5-11 entering Sunday's game at San Antonio. The Sixers were bounced out of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs each of the past two seasons.
Iverson would immediately spark interest and ticket sales among Philadelphia's largely apathetic fan base. The Sixers are 29th in the NBA in attendance, and Iverson would spike that sagging number.
Stefanski has said he wanted to build around his nucleus of Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. Iverson, like he has in every stop, would demand the ball and could hinder team chemistry more than he could make Philly relevant.
Iverson also has made it clear he won't come off the bench. With Williams out, he would start over rookie Jrue Holiday, but it's not clear where he would fit in once Williams is healthy to return.
The New York Knicks considered signing Iverson after he cleared waivers, before deciding he would take too much playing time from younger players they are trying to develop.
One of the NBA's great scorers, Iverson entered this season with a career average of 27.1 points, which ranks fifth all time. Yet there was almost no interest in him this summer before he went to the Grizzlies on a one-year deal.
"I don't think deep down he ever wanted to leave Philly," Brown said. "He's said, deep down, numerous times that's where he wanted to finish his career. Let's hope he has an opportunity to come back. If it's not Philly, somebody will pick him up. I'm confident of that."
Iverson has played one game in Philadelphia since he was traded, with Denver on March 19, 2008. He planted a kiss on the 76ers logo at midcourt, blew imaginary ones to the fans, and regretted how his Sixers career ended.
"I always wanted to finish my career here in Philadelphia," he said. "The opportunity was there for me to do it. In a lot of ways, I made sure that didn't happen."
He might get that second act to make it end the way he wants.
-- Dan Gelston
Orlando forward Matt Barnes fined $20,000
MILWAUKEE — Orlando forward Matt Barnes says he'll appeal a $20,000 fine for throwing a basketball into the stands, and coach Stan Van Gundy joked he had a novel idea for Barnes the next time he needs to vent his frustration.
"I think that's a little much," Barnes said before the Magic took on the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. "I completely understand the fine, but $20,000 is ridiculous, so we'll see."
The Heat's Michael Beasley soared over Barnes to grab an offensive rebound and dunk the ball for the winning points with 1.6 seconds left in Miami's 99-98 win Wednesday. The Magic protested that it was goaltending, and Barnes threw the ball into the stands after the game.
"I didn't even know he did it," said Van Gundy, who was told of the fine around the time the NBA announced it Saturday.
Van Gundy was leery of discussing whether he thought the fine was excessive, noting he's already been slapped for $35,000 this year in the preseason for his criticism of replacement referees.
"I lost $35,000 earlier and if I'm going to lose more money, it's not going to be on that," Van Gundy said. "It was just frustration that Beasley got behind him and put the ball in the basket and we lost a tough game.
"Again, I didn't even see him throw it. I don't think it was any complaint with officials, it's simply just they have said, if the ball goes into the stands, you're getting fined. I think that part of it is a good rule, whatever the number is, they decide."
Van Gundy joked Barnes should consider throwing cash into the stands instead of a ball next time.
"That's basically what he did," the coach said. "At least if you did that, it'd be the same amount of money, and you'd be very popular. If he threw $20,000 in cash, he'd be very popular."
Barnes, in his seventh year and with his seventh team, is averaging 6.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 16 games with the Magic this season.
Bucks guard Michael Redd out again with sore knee
MILWAUKEE — Bucks guard Michael Redd will not play against the Orlando Magic because of a sore left knee.
Redd has already missed nine games because of a knee strain he sustained Oct. 31 against Detroit while dunking on a fast break. He returned on Wednesday and played in the final three games of Milwaukee's most recent road trip, averaging 7.6 points in limited minutes.
But coach Scott Skiles said before Saturday's game that Redd told him the knee was sore after the Bucks' 108-90 loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night.
The Bucks are also missing center Andrew Bogut (left leg strain), who was hurt Nov. 18 and will miss his sixth game, and forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (left foot sprain), who was hurt Nov. 16 and will miss his seventh game.
Allen rejoins Celtics after time off with sick son
WALTHAM, Mass. — Ray Allen rejoined the Boston Celtics on Saturday after spending the night in a hospital with his ailing 2-year-old son.
Allen missed practice Saturday, but the Celtics said he was back with the team for its flight to Miami and should be available to play against the Heat on Sunday night in the opener of Boston's four-game road trip.
Allen went to the hospital to be with his son, Walker, after Friday night's victory over the Raptors. Walker Allen was diagnosed with diabetes during the 2008 NBA finals.
Elsewhere
Walker apologizes for conditions at Ill. buildings
CHICAGO — Former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker is apologizing for "unacceptable" living conditions at Chicago buildings owned by his companies.
Walker told the Chicago Tribune he wants to "humbly apologize" to everyone who's been affected by the failings of his companies, Walker Ventures LLC and AW Realty LLC.
One building has been described as a slum nuisance by the city. A broken sewer pipe filled the basement with feces and debris, and bricks tumbled from the building's facade.
Over a dozen lawsuits have been filed against Walker's companies over poor management and unpaid debts.
Walker is also facing criminal charges over gambling debts to three Las Vegas casinos.
Walker played for Boston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami and Minnesota during his 12-year career.
