LeBron James provides teaser for hungry Knicks fans

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 25, 2008 | by Anonymous

LeBron James might never have an easier night at Madison Square Garden, whether he plays for the Knicks or not. James scored 26 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers quickly took a charged-up New York crowd out of the game in a 119-101 victory Tuesday night.

Fans hoping someday to see James play in New York got to learn how good his team in Cleveland is right now. James' first visit to Madison Square Garden this season came just days after the Knicks made a pair of trades that cleared enough salary cap space for a potential run at him in free agency in the summer of 2010.

James was loudly cheered during pregame introductions by a crowd that included his buddy, rapper Jay-Z -- who might prefer James goes to New Jersey, the team he partly owns -- and producer and Knicks fan Spike Lee, who was wearing a pair of the red "Big Apple" sneakers that James debuted for the game.

-- New York completed a trade sending Zach Randolph to the Los Angeles Clippers for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley.

Lakers 120, Nets 93: Pau Gasol had 26 points and eight rebounds in three quarters in host Los Angeles' rout.

Suns 99, Thunder 98: Matt Barnes hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 25.7 seconds, spoiling Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks' home debut.

Mavericks 109, Pacers 106: Jason Terry scored 29 points as host Dallas won its fifth straight.

Etc: New Jersey's Supreme Court will determine what role a racial slur will play in the reckless manslaughter retrial of former NBA star Jayson Williams. The slur was uttered by an investigator who didn't testify in Williams' first trial in 2004 and later retired. ... Charlotte's leading scorer Jason Richardson practiced for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and could play tonight in Toronto. ... Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut will be sidelined for a week to 10 days after sustaining a bone bruise to his left knee.