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James and Cavaliers overpower the Knicks
Source: Agencies |
March 3, 2010, Wednesday
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IF the New York Knicks were hoping to impress LeBron James, the Cavaliers superstar, in their final meeting before he can become a free agent this summer, they flopped badly in Cleveland's 124-93 victory.
LeBron James was relieved of duty after three quarters with the Cavaliers leading comfortably.
James had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Cleveland used a 74-point first half to hammer the Knicks in their first game since learning Shaquille O'Neal will miss the rest of the regular season.
O'Neal had surgery on his injured right thumb on Monday morning and is expected to miss two months. The team is hopeful he will return for at least part of the playoffs.
The Cavs didn't need O'Neal, or James, to pummel New York. James sat the entire fourth quarter as Cleveland built a 49-point lead in the second half.
In other games, it was: Suns 101, Nuggets 85; Hawks 116, Bulls 92; Mavericks 89, Bobcats 84; Trail Blazers 103, Grizzlies 93; Spurs 106, Hornets 92; Magic 126, 76ers 105; Clipper 108, Jazz 104; and Rockets 116, Raptors 92.
Cleveland's 31-point margin of victory is the largest this season for the Cavaliers, which equaled a season high with its 74-point first half-set three weeks ago.
The Cavaliers outrebounded New York 60-31 in winning their eighth straight in the series, allowing James to goof off and put J.J. Hickson in a headlock during a time out in the fourth quarter.
"They have a lot of fun here at home," New York's Tracy McGrady said. "It's tough to beat them at home. I'd have fun, too. If it's that easy, why not have fun? I don't blame them for celebrating. We have to do something about it."
James, who entered averaging 35.4 points, 7.9 assists and 7.1 rebounds in his last seven games against New York, didn't have one of his trademark New York performances. He didn't need it.
Antawn Jamison had 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Anderson Varejao had 14 points and 10 boards. Hickson had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Delonte West scored 15 points as the Cavaliers exposed New York's defensive inefficiencies.
Rockets win
James, who dismissed a question about joining the Knicks next season, was asked if he could play for a team that didn't care about defense.
"I'm a winner. I just want to win," he said. "I've yet to play for a team that doesn't like defense, but that's not about the team, it's about individuals first. Individuals have to want the responsibility to guard the guy in front of them and then it makes it a lot easier as a team."
Cleveland fans are tired of hearing about the possibility of James bolting Cleveland for New York this summer. That's why the sellout crowd at the Q roared when two small boys held up a sign in the fourth quarter: "Hey NY, Get Your Own King."
In Houston, Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks scored 28 points each in three quarters as Houston rolled to a win over struggling Toronto.
The Rockets led by 32 after three and both teams played mostly reserves the rest of the way.
The Raptors dropped their fourth in a row in their sixth straight game without injured All-Star Chris Bosh. Marcus Banks led Toronto with 15 points.
In Phoenix, the Suns bench players keyed a second-quarter comeback from a double-digit deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 101-85.
Goran Dragic scored 10 first-half points off the bench and the reserves scored 24 of 33 second-quarter points.
Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who won their fifth straight at home and their sixth in seven games overall.
In Chicago, Atlanta pulled away after being challenged in the fourth quarter and comfortably beat Chicago.
LeBron James was relieved of duty after three quarters with the Cavaliers leading comfortably.
James had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Cleveland used a 74-point first half to hammer the Knicks in their first game since learning Shaquille O'Neal will miss the rest of the regular season.
O'Neal had surgery on his injured right thumb on Monday morning and is expected to miss two months. The team is hopeful he will return for at least part of the playoffs.
The Cavs didn't need O'Neal, or James, to pummel New York. James sat the entire fourth quarter as Cleveland built a 49-point lead in the second half.
In other games, it was: Suns 101, Nuggets 85; Hawks 116, Bulls 92; Mavericks 89, Bobcats 84; Trail Blazers 103, Grizzlies 93; Spurs 106, Hornets 92; Magic 126, 76ers 105; Clipper 108, Jazz 104; and Rockets 116, Raptors 92.
Cleveland's 31-point margin of victory is the largest this season for the Cavaliers, which equaled a season high with its 74-point first half-set three weeks ago.
The Cavaliers outrebounded New York 60-31 in winning their eighth straight in the series, allowing James to goof off and put J.J. Hickson in a headlock during a time out in the fourth quarter.
"They have a lot of fun here at home," New York's Tracy McGrady said. "It's tough to beat them at home. I'd have fun, too. If it's that easy, why not have fun? I don't blame them for celebrating. We have to do something about it."
James, who entered averaging 35.4 points, 7.9 assists and 7.1 rebounds in his last seven games against New York, didn't have one of his trademark New York performances. He didn't need it.
Antawn Jamison had 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Anderson Varejao had 14 points and 10 boards. Hickson had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Delonte West scored 15 points as the Cavaliers exposed New York's defensive inefficiencies.
Rockets win
James, who dismissed a question about joining the Knicks next season, was asked if he could play for a team that didn't care about defense.
"I'm a winner. I just want to win," he said. "I've yet to play for a team that doesn't like defense, but that's not about the team, it's about individuals first. Individuals have to want the responsibility to guard the guy in front of them and then it makes it a lot easier as a team."
Cleveland fans are tired of hearing about the possibility of James bolting Cleveland for New York this summer. That's why the sellout crowd at the Q roared when two small boys held up a sign in the fourth quarter: "Hey NY, Get Your Own King."
In Houston, Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks scored 28 points each in three quarters as Houston rolled to a win over struggling Toronto.
The Rockets led by 32 after three and both teams played mostly reserves the rest of the way.
The Raptors dropped their fourth in a row in their sixth straight game without injured All-Star Chris Bosh. Marcus Banks led Toronto with 15 points.
In Phoenix, the Suns bench players keyed a second-quarter comeback from a double-digit deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 101-85.
Goran Dragic scored 10 first-half points off the bench and the reserves scored 24 of 33 second-quarter points.
Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who won their fifth straight at home and their sixth in seven games overall.
In Chicago, Atlanta pulled away after being challenged in the fourth quarter and comfortably beat Chicago.
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