Sports

NBA

James shows off new range for new-look Cavs

Associated Press
Published November 3, 2005

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CLEVELAND - The first one caused a stir, the next two a commotion. And when LeBron James sank his fourth straight 3-pointer in less than two minutes, everyone in the building was on their feet begging for more.

"It was amazing," Cavaliers forward Donyell Marshall said. "We were just like the fans, we wanted him to keep shooting, too."

James, playing his first regular-season game with new teammates brought in to help get him to the playoffs, made six 3-pointers and scored 31 points as Cleveland won its season opener 109-87 over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.

James made five straight 3-pointers - four in a row during a 1:44 span over Hornets forward Bostjan Nachbar - and scored 24 in the first half as the Cavs built a 21-point lead and buzzed the Hornets, who won their opener on Tuesday over Sacramento.

"He hit everything from everywhere," Nachbar said.

"When you're on fire like that, you have to keep shooting," James said.

The Cavaliers, whose collapse down the stretch cost them a playoff spot last season, spent $150-million in free agency, signing Larry Hughes, Marshall, Damon Jones and re-signing Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The quartet combined for 52 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists, but it was James' outside shooting that put the game out of reach early and helped Cleveland coach Mike Brown win his debut.

The Hornets were led by Speedy Claxton's 16 points.

WIZARDS 99, RAPTORS 96: Antawn Jamison had 29 points and visiting Washington held off Toronto.

Gilbert Arenas added 21 points for the Wizards. Jalen Rose had 20 points for the Raptors, but just two in the fourth quarter as he missed a number of shots down the stretch.

BUCKS 110, NETS 98: Michael Redd scored a career-high 41 points and Maurice Williams added 23 off the bench to lead visiting Milwaukee past New Jersey.

Vince Carter led New Jersey with 25 points but missed 10 of his first 14 shots from the floor.

Nets forward Richard Jefferson was ejected in the fourth quarter after a scuffle with Williams.

TIMBERWOLVES 90, BLAZERS 88: Dwane Casey's first coaching victory came at the expense of an old friend.

Kevin Garnett had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Richie Frahm hit his first five 3-pointers as host Minnesota beat Portland and new coach Nate McMillan, who either coached with or played for Casey in Seattle for the past 11 years.

PISTONS 108, 76ERS 88: Richard Hamilton scored 37 points to lead host Detroit past Philadelphia in a game that looked a lot like their first-round series six months ago.

Philadelphia's Allen Iverson scored 31 points, but he didn't have much help - much like in Detroit's 4-1 series victory en route to its second straight trip to the Finals.

CELTICS 114, KNICKS 100 (OT): Ricky Davis scored nine of his 27 points in overtime, when host Boston went on a 9-0 run to beat New York and spoil Larry Brown's debut as Knicks coach.

Paul Pierce had 30 points and 12 rebounds, and Delonte West had 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for the defending Atlantic Division champions. Stephon Marbury scored 22 and Eddy Curry had 19 points and eight rebounds in his first game since learning of a heart problem that led to his trade to New York.

HEAT 97, GRIZZLIES 78: Antoine Walker had 25 points and 16 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade scored 23 as visiting Miami defeated Memphis.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 12, and Jason Williams, playing his first game as the Heat point guard after four seasons in Memphis, scored 10.

ROCKETS 98, KINGS 89: Jon Barry scored 24 points as host Houston beat Sacramento.

Tracy McGrady had 23 points after sitting out Houston's last two preseason games with tendinitis in both knees.

JAZZ 93, MAVERICKS 82: Daron Williams scored 18 points in his debut and Mehmet Okur added 27 to lead host Utah past travel-weary Dallas.

The Mavericks were coming off a double-overtime win at Phoenix on Tuesday night and wilted late in the fourth quarter, getting outscored 28-15 in the final quarter.

CLIPPERS 101, SONICS 93: Sam Cassell won a duel with Ray Allen, scoring 35, and short-handed Los Angeles rallied in Seattle. Cassell made three 3-pointers in the final five minutes, as the Clippers rallied from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit. Allen scored 31 points on 11-of-21 shooting. Rashard Lewis added 18 for Seattle, but no other Sonic reached double figures.

BULLS 109, BOBCATS 105 (OT): Chris Duhon led seven players in double figures with 18 points, and host Chicago outscored Charlotte 30-9 in the fourth quarter to force OT.

Nene may miss season

Denver forward Nene tore up his right knee in the opener on Tuesday and, after an exam Wednesday, the team said he likely would miss the entire season.

The damage to the knee was extensive - a torn anterior cruciate ligament, sprained medial collateral ligament and torn meniscus. Vandeweghe said no damage was done to the actual knee joint, which means Nene should eventually come back all the way. Surgery has not yet been scheduled and Vandeweghe said he held out at least a little hope that Nene could return this season.

BULLS: Chicago waived forward Kasib Powell, a 6-foot-9 rookie from Texas Tech who averaged 3.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in the preseason.

CLIPPERS: Corey Maggette was still bothered by a left hamstring injury and did not play in Los Angeles' opener against Seattle.

SUNS: Phoenix signed rookie forward Sharrod Ford and waived Brazilian rookie Lucas Tischer.

[Last modified November 3, 2005, 01:07:13]