Williams’ 16 points lead Cavaliers in rout

(AP) PITTSBURGH - Mo Williams had 16 points and 11 assists in his return to Cleveland’s lineup and led the Cavaliers to a 96-66 preseason victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 16 points for the Cavaliers (3-3), who had five players in double figures. LeBron James and Anderson Varejao both scored 12 points as Cavaliers coach Mike Brown played his starters until building a 30-point lead in the third quarter.

James had four rebounds and seven assists, while Shaquille O’Neal had six points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes.

Williams, who played almost 28 minutes, was rested in Cleveland’s previous game and missed two others with a sore right groin.

Kris Humphries led Dallas (4-2) with 20 points, while Matt Carroll had 17 and Drew Gooden 10.

The Mavericks dressed only nine players. Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd did not play, and Shawn Marion, Josh Howard and Tim Thomas continued to nurse injuries.

Marion sat out a fourth preseason game because of a right calf strain. Howard and Thomas haven’t played in the preseason because of offseason surgeries.

With so many regulars on the bench, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle gave extensive playing time to Carroll, who played 35 minutes in front of his hometown fans. Carroll grew up in Pittsburgh until moving away after the eighth grade.

The Cavaliers built a 51-34 halftime lead as the Mavericks shot 32 percent. They outscored the Mavericks 32-16 in the third quarter to take a 33-point lead.

Brown had hoped to play his starters into the fourth quarter, but because of the lopsided score he lifted O’Neal with 5:50 remaining and James with 3:45 left in the third.

For the first time in the preseason, troubled Cavaliers guard Delonte West dressed and sat on the bench but did not play. West has missed all seven preseason games because of a personal matter, and it is not known whether he will dress Wednesday night when the Cavaliers finish preseason play against Boston.

West, who has been treated for bipolar disorder, was arrested on gun possession charges in Maryland in September.

Brown said West will be part of the Cavaliers’ rotation once he returns, but will not move directly into the starting lineup. Anthony Parker has assumed the starting guard spot in West’s absence.

West is coming off his best season, averaging 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot a career-high 40 percent from 3-point range while helping the Cavaliers win a franchise-high 66 games. He was considered the team’s second-most productive player in the playoffs, behind James.