With 22 assists and nine steals Saturday against Philadelphia, Cavaliers
point guard Andre Miller had on paper one of the best performances in team history. But Cavs coach John Lucas, upset at the 94-91 loss, was in no mood for compliments. ``I demand a lot from Andre,'' Lucas said. ``Andre isn't where he's going to be. The numbers are good. The numbers are what you (the media) call `great.' I want the thinking to be great.'' Lucas believed there were some instances when Miller did not make correct decisions. But nobody else could be found who didn't laud Miller's effort. Returning after missing the first game of his three-year career Thursday with a shoulder injury, Miller also had 14 points. Miller set Gund Arena records for assists and steals, and each total was the second-best effort in team history. ``Andre Miller was sensational,'' said 76ers coach Larry Brown.
ILGAUSKAS HAVING WOES -- The play of Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has leveled off as foes have made adjustments. In his first four games after returning from foot surgery, Ilgauskas shot 55.3 percent and averaged 15.5 points. In his last two games, he's shot 30.8 percent and averaged nine points. ``We didn't get anything out of Zydrunas,'' said Lucas, referring to Saturday's second period, when the 7-3 Ilgauskas shot 0-of-4 while being guarded by 6-8 Michael Ruffin and 6-11 rookie Samuel Dalembert since 7-2 Dikembe Mutombo was in foul trouble. With teams using gimmick defenses on Ilgauskas, Lucas said he must ``stay calm.'' Lucas said he's ``going to work on his head so he doesn't get frustrated.'' Ilgauskas denied it, but Lucas believes frustration factored in Ilgauskas' flagrant foul Thursday on Dallas' Eduardo Najera. Ilgauskas shot 1-of-5 in that game.

DOES IVERSON OWN CAVS? -- Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson, who had 40 points Saturday, has had three huge games against the Cavs, but he hasn't dominated them as much as one might think. In 17 career games against the Cavs, Iverson has averaged 26.9 points, only slightly above his career mark of 26.2. Iverson had 50 points at Gund Arena as a rookie in 1996-97 and burned the Cavs for a Gund-record 54 last season. Subtracting his three huge games, Iverson is averaging 22.4 against them. Still, it's got to be good news for the Cavs that Iverson does not return to Gund this season. The teams do play once more, on March 6, in Philadelphia.

NOTABLE -- The Cavs entered Saturday fourth in the NBA in free-throw percentage at 79.4 percent. But they missed five free throws in the final minute, two by Ilgauskas and three by Lamond Murray. . . . 76ers point guard Eric Snow was overshadowed by Iverson and Miller, but the Canton native had a strong game with 13 points and 12 assists. ``(Snow) was great,'' Brown said.