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Home » Sports » Basketball
LeBron surpasses 12,000 career points
Source: Agencies |
February 5, 2009, Thursday
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Print Edition
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LEBRON James sometimes even surprises his own coach with an electrifying play.
James scored 33 points to eclipse 12,000 for his career, but it was his block of a dunk attempt by Chris Bosh during the fourth quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 101-83 win over the Toronto Raptors that got coach Mike Brown's attention on Tuesday night.
"That caught me off-guard," Brown said. "When he came from the weak side and got that block, I was floored. I didn't think there was any way whatsoever that any human being could come from the weak side and contest a shot the way he did. Wow! Wow! Wow!"
James' performance helped the Cavs win their 23rd in a row at home, breaking the club record set during the 1988-89 season.
"It's another great thing in this season," James said. "It's great to put another record in the book. Every player and coach should be proud of it."
In other National Basketball Association games on Tuesday, it was: Rockets 107, Bulls 100; Celtics 100, 76ers 99; Timberwolves 116, Pacers 111; Nets 99, Bucks 85; and Nuggets 104, Spurs 96.
In Cleveland, James became the fastest player in NBA history to reach the 12,000-point plateau. At 24 years, 35 days, he did it quicker than Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who was 25 years, 220 days.
"He's still going to get better," Brown said. "That's the scary thing."
James, who did not make a field goal in the second half, helped put Toronto away with his free throws and defense.
First, he was fouled on a drive and made both free throws. On the Raptors' next trip, James thwarted Bosh's dunk before being fouled again and making both free throws - he finished 13-of-13 from the line - to build the lead to 12.
James, the Eastern Conference's player of the month in January, now heads to Madison Square Garden after Bryant set a new MSG scoring mark.
Bryant scored 61 on Monday night against the Knicks, and New York coach Mike D'Antoni is well aware that James could rewrite the record book quickly.
"We set the bar up high for him. He'd have to play really well," D'Antoni said.
But James isn't going to New York intent on breaking records.
"I just go out and play my game," he said. "I'm not a video game where you can just expect me to go out there and score 60 or 70."
He seemed that way in the first quarter on Tuesday, when he outscored the Raptors 16-15. James made his first six shots and set the tone as the Cavaliers beat the Raptors for the ninth straight time at home.
"There's not much you can say," Bosh said. "It's not the first time he has done it. It won't be the last. He was very aggressive. I guess he really started feeling it. He fired up a couple of 3s and those went in. He was really rolling to start the game."
In Houston, Yao Ming scored 28 points, and Luis Scola scored 13 points and matched a career-high with 18 rebounds as Houston beat Chicago.
Aaron Brooks scored 18 and Tracy McGrady added 16 for the Rockets, who've won six straight and 11 of 12 games against the Bulls.
Luol Deng scored a season-high 28 and Ben Gordon scored 20 for Chicago, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.
James scored 33 points to eclipse 12,000 for his career, but it was his block of a dunk attempt by Chris Bosh during the fourth quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 101-83 win over the Toronto Raptors that got coach Mike Brown's attention on Tuesday night.
"That caught me off-guard," Brown said. "When he came from the weak side and got that block, I was floored. I didn't think there was any way whatsoever that any human being could come from the weak side and contest a shot the way he did. Wow! Wow! Wow!"
James' performance helped the Cavs win their 23rd in a row at home, breaking the club record set during the 1988-89 season.
"It's another great thing in this season," James said. "It's great to put another record in the book. Every player and coach should be proud of it."
In other National Basketball Association games on Tuesday, it was: Rockets 107, Bulls 100; Celtics 100, 76ers 99; Timberwolves 116, Pacers 111; Nets 99, Bucks 85; and Nuggets 104, Spurs 96.
In Cleveland, James became the fastest player in NBA history to reach the 12,000-point plateau. At 24 years, 35 days, he did it quicker than Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who was 25 years, 220 days.
"He's still going to get better," Brown said. "That's the scary thing."
James, who did not make a field goal in the second half, helped put Toronto away with his free throws and defense.
First, he was fouled on a drive and made both free throws. On the Raptors' next trip, James thwarted Bosh's dunk before being fouled again and making both free throws - he finished 13-of-13 from the line - to build the lead to 12.
James, the Eastern Conference's player of the month in January, now heads to Madison Square Garden after Bryant set a new MSG scoring mark.
Bryant scored 61 on Monday night against the Knicks, and New York coach Mike D'Antoni is well aware that James could rewrite the record book quickly.
"We set the bar up high for him. He'd have to play really well," D'Antoni said.
But James isn't going to New York intent on breaking records.
"I just go out and play my game," he said. "I'm not a video game where you can just expect me to go out there and score 60 or 70."
He seemed that way in the first quarter on Tuesday, when he outscored the Raptors 16-15. James made his first six shots and set the tone as the Cavaliers beat the Raptors for the ninth straight time at home.
"There's not much you can say," Bosh said. "It's not the first time he has done it. It won't be the last. He was very aggressive. I guess he really started feeling it. He fired up a couple of 3s and those went in. He was really rolling to start the game."
In Houston, Yao Ming scored 28 points, and Luis Scola scored 13 points and matched a career-high with 18 rebounds as Houston beat Chicago.
Aaron Brooks scored 18 and Tracy McGrady added 16 for the Rockets, who've won six straight and 11 of 12 games against the Bulls.
Luol Deng scored a season-high 28 and Ben Gordon scored 20 for Chicago, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.
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