For a third consecutive season, LeBron James is leading the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring, currently at 7.8 points a game. Numerous times he has led the Cavs to victories by carrying the offensive load in close games. But guard Mo Williams is nearly in the same category and it continues to pay dividends.

In the Cavs' 90-80 victory over Detroit on Sunday, Williams and James combined for 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. It was one of their better combined fourth-quarter efforts of the season, and it highlighted the trend. Williams averages 5.1 points on 48 percent shooting in the fourth quarter.

Only the Cavs and Golden State Warriors, who seem to set the curve when it comes to all offensive stats, have more than one of the top 20 fourth-quarter scorers.

It is more than just numbers. Williams' contributions have more value because he starts the fourth quarter with James on the bench, usually getting four or five minutes worth of important rest. By being the primary scorer and setting up the offense, most of the time Williams has delivered in the role.

"This team needs me down the stretch of games to be aggressive," Williams said. "I've got to run the team and make something happen, whether it is scoring or on offense. We can't lose ground, we have to maintain when he's getting his rest."

Most of the time they don't lose ground, they gain it. Williams has a plus-95 plus/minus rating in the fourth quarter, which means the Cavs have outscored opponents by 95 points with him on the floor. Sunday, Williams helped the team take a 13-point edge in the fourth quarter when James rested.

"This whole season has been different with Mo out there," James said. "There has not been a time this year when I felt like they couldn't handle the pressure with me not out there."

Bloody Andy: Forward Anderson Varejao needed five stitches, four on the inside of his mouth and one on his lip, to close a gash Detroit's Antonio McDyess opened with an elbow in the second quarter. The two were fighting for position when McDyess tried to create space and sent Varejao to the floor.

"I felt my front teeth go into my lip and when I stuck my tongue there I felt how deep the cut was," Varejao said. "I knew I had to stay down or I'd bleed all over the court."

He returned in the second half and had five rebounds in the pivotal fourth quarter.

Sasha the shooter: After hitting his only 3-point shot attempt Sunday, guard Sasha Pavlovic has made 13-of-24 3-pointers over the past six games. Now shooting 45 percent on 3's this season, he ranks fifth in the league. His career high for 3-point shooting in a season is 41 percent in 2006-07.

Decision day: Guard Jawad Williams' second 10-day contract expired Sunday. The team has to decide whether to sign him for the rest of the season or let him walk. It could go either way. They have been tracking guards in the D-League, but they value the chemistry of the team and Williams has fit in well.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bwindhorst@plaind.com, 216-999-5166