Cavaliers put end to Pistons' streak

CLEVELAND - One day after LeBron James turned 21, the Cleveland Cavaliers might have come of age, too.

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James scored 30 points with seven rebounds and seven assists in the Cavaliers' 97-84 win over the Detroit Pistons, who had their winning streak stopped at nine and lost for just the fourth time this season.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 18 points, Larry Hughes 16 and Drew Gooden 12 with 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who posted their most impressive victory and improved to 13-3 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Cleveland has won the past three meetings at home against the Pistons, the team they're trying to catch in the Central Division and the franchise they aspire to be like someday.

The Pistons, who came in on pace to win a record 73 regular-season games, shot a season-low 36 percent (29 of 81) from the floor and dropped to 24-4 - still one of the best starts in NBA history.

Tayshaun Prince, who came in averaging 15.1 points, had just four on 2 of 12 shooting. Chauncey Billups was only 2-for-11 from the field and had 14.

Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton had 21 points apiece to lead the Pistons, and Ben Wallace added 11 with 18 rebounds.

The Cavaliers, who led by 19 in the first half, pushed it to 20 late in the third quarter and then held off a late push by the Pistons, who got within 92-82 on Carlos Delfino's free throw with 3:41 remaining.

But James, who posted up in the lane more than usual, drilled a 3-pointer with 3:17 left, and after Ilgauskas' basket made it 97-82, Cleveland fans began to celebrate an unlikely blowout of the league's top team.

James has scored at least 30 points in 11 of his past 14 games.

The Pistons started cold from the floor and remained that way in the first half, shooting just 31 percent in falling behind by 19 points.

Donyell Marshall made consecutive 3-pointers and James completed a three-point play as the Cavaliers opened the second quarter with 11 straight points to open a 12-point lead.

Detroit, though, recovered and closed within 36-28. However, Ilgauskas scored five points and Rasheed Wallace was called for a technical as Cleveland reeled off another 11-0 spurt.