CAVALIERS 118, KNICKS 82
by BY ALAN HAHN. alan.hahn@newsday.com , Newsday
They're also a world apart from the rebuilding Knicks, who were undermanned and overwhelmed yet again by an elite team in a 118-82 loss to LeBron and the Cavaliers last night at Quicken Loans Arena.
"We ran into a good team without any gas in the tank and it showed," Mike D'Antoni said of the Knicks (8-10), who were clearly worn down in the second game of a back-to-back. They have lost three straight and seven of their last nine since a 6-3 start.
Meanwhile, the Cavs (15-3) improved their mark at the Q to a franchise-record 10-0 and have won six straight and 14 of their last 15 games.
Al Harrington took down James on a layup attempt with 10:36 left in the third quarter and was whistled for a flagrant foul. James felt the hard foul, which resulted in two free throws to make it a 65-35 Cavaliers' lead, could have been avoided but held no grudge.
Crisis averted.
"A team's losing like that, you know, sometimes you want to try to send a message," James said. "But I know Al personally. He's not that type of player."
For the second time this season against the Knicks, James spent the entire fourth quarter on the bench. He scored six of his 21 points in a 16-0 run in the second quarter that broke open the game. The Cavs led 57-29 when Anderson Varejao capped the run with a layup with 3:54 left in the half.
With Nate Robinson (groin) sitting out his fourth straight game and Cuttino Mobley's situation still unresolved, the Knicks played the game with eight players, nine if you count bench fixture
Harrington led the Knicks with 20 points and David Lee had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
Notes & quotes: Eddy Curry had a recent MRI on his left knee and is still experiencing pain because of a bone bruise that has kept him off the court ... Stephon Marbury is in exile, but his nameplate came with the Knicks on this road trip and was hung up over a stall in the visitors' locker room. Marbury is not expected to resume buyout talks with the Knicks until next week. While he has been asked to stay away from the team during the process, Marbury is still allowed to use the Knicks' facilities and get treatment from the team's medical staff . . . Mobley is expected to visit with another heart specialist tomorrow, his second this week, before he, his agent Andy Miller and Knicks president Donnie Walsh meet to review the recommendations and consider his future . . . The Knicks could get some reinforcements in time for their next game, tomorrow in Atlanta, when Robinson and Jared Jeffries (broken leg) are expected to play.
Tomorrow
Knicks at Atlanta
7:30 p.m.
TV: MSG
Radio: WEPN (1050)
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