James scores 41 as Cavaliers down Miami Heat

NEW YORK (Reuters) – LeBron James scored 41 points and had
10 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Heat 115-107 in
the National Basketball Association Saturday, handing Pat Riley
his first loss since returning to coach Miami.

Donyell Marshall added a season-high 25 points for the
Cavaliers, ending a four-game winning streak for Miami, three
of which came since Riley returned from the front office to
coach the team, replacing Stan Van Gundy.

The Cavaliers have won two straight games coming off a
stretch where they lost seven of nine games.

James added five assists and went 12-for-13 from the foul
line in the win, but the Cavaliers lost Drew Gooden with a
sprained ankle in the first half. He left the game and didn’t
return after landing awkwardly on Shaquille O’Neal’s boot.

Larry Hughes added 20 points for the Cavaliers, who led by
20 points after three quarters against a sluggish Miami
defense.

Miami was playing its fourth game in five nights, but Riley
felt his team would not have stopped James no matter what.

“He’s like a freight train with Dwyane Wade’s speed,” Riley
said.

Wade led the Heat with 33 points and had seven assists and
Alonzo Mourning chipped in with 14 points, six assists and
three blocks.

O’Neal had his lowest scoring game of the season with just
10 points, playing just 27 minutes and shooting 5-for-10 from
the field and missing all of his three free throws.

In Los Angeles, Sam Cassell scored 22 points as the
Clippers beat the Houston Rockets 89-81.

Elton Brand added 20 points for the Clippers.

Tracy McGrady scored 29 points and Yao Ming added 22 for
the Rockets.

In New York, Jermaine O’Neal scored 31 points as the
Indiana Pacers beat the Knicks 102-96.

Jamaal Tinsley added 23 points for the Pacers.

Stephon Marbury scored 25 points and Jamal Crawford added
15 for the Knicks.

In Charlotte, Chauncey Billups scored 21 points and had 12
assists as the Detroit Pistons beat the Bobcats 103-78,
improving to 18-3.

Richard Hamilton added 15 points for the Pistons.

Primoz Brezec scored 17 points and Emeka Okafor added 14
points and had 13 rebounds for the Bobcats.

In Memphis, Mike Miller scored 14 points and had 11
rebounds as the Grizzlies beat the Phoenix Suns 91-87.

In San Antonio, Michael Finely hit a 20-foot jumper with
2.5 seconds left as the Spurs edged the Sacramento Kings 90-89.

In Chicago, Mike Sweetney scored 24 points as the Bulls
beat the Boston Celtics 118-86.

In Milwaukee, Michael Redd scored 19 points as the Utah
Jazz beat the Bucks 88-80.