Icon SMI

The Cavaliers haven’t had a three-game losing streak since Damon Jones was playing in team’s backcourt. LeBron James was intent on keeping things that way on Friday night against the Trail Blazers.

James scored 19 points in the second half as the Cavaliers bounced back from a nine-point halftime deficit to come away with a 104-99 victory over Portland. The win ends a two-game losing skid for the Cavaliers. They fell to the Grizzlies on Tuesday and the Rockets on Wednesday, both on the road.

The Cavaliers seemed to be on their way to a third-straight loss after the first half against the Blazers. They trailed 54-45 at that point and did not appear to be a team looking to get back on the winning track.

Although they shot 50 percent from the field in the opening half, the Cavaliers were having major problems stopping their opponents at the other end.

Juwan Howard, who is now in his 16th year in the NBA, scored 13 points in the first half. Former Cavalier Andre Miller added 12.

It is unknown what was said in the Cavaliers’ locker room at halftime, but whatever it was, it worked.

The home team came out playing like a championship-caliber club the minute the third quarter began.

“We didn’t play particularly good in the first half,” said James after the game. ”But we decided to turn it around in the second half and it allowed us to get stops and get some easy opportunities on the offensive end.”

The Cavaliers outscored Portland 31-22 in the third period, led by none other than ’The King’ himself.

James scored his team’s first nine points in the quarter, then decided to get his teammates involved.

The 24-year-old found Anderson Varejao open under the basket several times, and looked to get his center, Shaquille O’Neal, the ball in the post. The pair combined for 15 points in the third, and the Cavaliers headed into the final period tied with their visitors from Oregon.

In the fourth, the Cavs continued to find open looks, especially for Varejao.

“Andy was terrific,” said Brown. “He was the recipient of a lot of drives, good movement and dishes to him.”

Varejao, who played through flu-like symptoms, finished the game with a season-high 22 points and also added 10 rebounded.

“We know we are not going to get that out of Andy every night,” said James. …”It is a bonus, of course. To have a guy that can go out there and have a double-double is a good game.”

The Cavaliers held a two or three possession advantage throughout most the fourth period.

Two Mo Williams free throws with 19 seconds remaining extended the lead to seven and appeared to put the game out of reach for the Blazers. But Lamarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy had one last fight in them.

Aldridge hit a three-pointer just seconds later, followed by a steal by Roy on a lazy Jamario Moon inbounds bass that resulted in a layup.

All of a sudden the lead was down to two, but Williams calmly hit two foul shots, and Roy was unable to answer at the other end on a missed three-point try.

It was a tough night for Roy, who came into the game averaging 21.1 points on 45 percent shooting. He scored 23 points on Friday, but it was an ugly 23.

He shot just 9-25 from the floor, including 2-7 from beyond the arc.

The Cavaliers hounded him all-night long, especially Anthony Parker, who had the task of guarding him most of the game.

“I think that Anthony did a great job of guarding him and keeping a hand in his face,” said Williams. ”We did a good job of keeping two bodies in front of him and making it tough on him.”

Roy did score 10 points in the fourth quarter, but the final period still belonged to the Cavaliers. They outscored Portland 28-23 over the final 12 minutes.

“That is when we decide to lock down on defense and start getting stops,” said James. “Sometimes you can’t wait until the fourth quarter to do that, and that is when we get into trouble sometimes. But tonight we didn’t wait and finished it off in the fourth.””