Sports

NBA

20-year-old LeBron

Associated Press
Published March 21, 2005

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TORONTO - LeBron James became the youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game, but his franchise-record 56 weren't enough to prevent the Raptors from beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-98 on Sunday.

"I probably played the best game of my life but it means nothing when it comes with a loss," James said.

He easily surpassed his career best of 43, set Nov. 24 against Detroit. He committed a key turnover with 16 seconds left, however, and missed a pair of 3-point attempts in the final 14 seconds.

James finished 18-for-36 from the field and 14-for-15 from the line. He also had six 3s, 10 rebounds and five assists. But Toronto's bench did in the Cavaliers, outscoring Cleveland's reserves 34-1.

At 20 years, 80 days old, James eclipsed Rick Barry as the youngest player to score 50. Barry was 21 years, 261 days old when he scored 57 for San Francisco against the New York Knicks.

James' point total also bested the Cavaliers mark of 50 set by Walt Wesley against Cincinnati on Feb. 19, 1971.

NETS 94, PACERS 85: Vince Carter scored 39, including 14 in the third quarter when the visiting Nets pulled away for a season-best fourth straight win. Indiana's Reggie Miller, coming off a 39-point performance Friday night against the Lakers, was held to 13. Nenad Krstic finished with 18 points, and Jason Kidd had 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for New Jersey. Stephen Jackson led Indiana with 21 points despite being out from midway through the first quarter to the start of the second with a shin injury.

NUGGETS 114, BUCKS 103: Andre Miller had 22 points and eight assists and host Denver made more than half their shots for the third straight game. It was Denver's 11th win in 12 games, several of which have come at home against teams like the Bucks - out of the playoff race, but still playing hard. The Bucks were led by 24 points from Desmond Mason.

PISTONS 110, SPURS 101: Tim Duncan sprained his ankle moments after the tip and did not return, and host Detroit went on to win a matchup of the past two champions. Chauncey Billups scored 25. Tayshaun Price scored 22, Rasheed Wallace had 15 and Richard Hamilton, limited by a sprained left ankle, added 11 points.

SUNS 97, GRIZZLIES 91: Joe Johnson scored 28, including a 3-pointer with half a minute to play, to lead visiting Phoenix. Steve Nash had 13 points and 13 assists for the Suns, and Shawn Marion had 14 points and 16 rebounds. Phoenix also got 18 points from Quentin Richardson and 15 points from Amare Stoudemire.

SUPERSONICS 102, LAKERS 100: Rashard Lewis had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Ronald Murray filled in for the injured Ray Allen with a season-high 25 points. The loss was the fifth straight for the host Lakers - their longest losing streak since they finished the 1993-94 season with 10 straight. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 30 points.

WOLVES 94, ROCKETS 86: Kevin Garnett had 30 points, 17 rebounds and six assists to lead the host Timberwolves. Garnett scored 13 of his points in the third quarter, when the Timberwolves took advantage of poor shooting by Tracy McGrady and the Rockets to pull away. Yao Ming had 21 points and five rebounds for Houston.

WARRIORS 104, KINGS 94: Troy Murphy scored 29 points and had 14 rebounds and visiting Golden State won its third straight game without leading scorer Jason Richardson, out for personal reason.

Magic minus Francis loses

Orlando ended a frustrating stretch late Saturday - and they did it without Steve Francis. Grant Hill had 23 points and eight rebounds, and the Magic snapped a seven-game losing skid with a 97-92 victory over host Portland. Orlando defeated Portland for the first time since 1998 despite missing Francis, the team scoring and assists leader who was suspended indefinitely by the league for kicking a courtside photographer during a game in Seattle on Friday.

[Last modified March 21, 2005, 01:50:19]

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