James plants 52 at the Garden, Cavs nip Knicks 107-102

Los Angeles - 'King James' added another chapter to his legacy. LeBron James had his 21st career triple double with a season-high 52 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds on Wednesday night, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 107-102 road victory over the New York Knicks. 'I don't go out there for the numbers, I just play my game,' 'King James' said. 'You (media) guys have seen every phase of my game tonight. I never thought you could look at the box score and see somebody with 50 with a triple double, but it's happened.' After being shot down by LA Lakers' superstar Kobe Bryant for a record 61 points at the modern day Madison Square Garden on Monday night, the Knicks and the sellout crowd of more than 19,000 were mesmerized by the all-around game by the 24-year James. 'He's just a complete player, the total package and that's why he is who he is,' Knicks Tim Thomas said. 'The other night we watched Kobe go on a tear, scoring the basketball, not really getting everybody involved. 'Tonight, you watched LeBron be LeBron, which is score, get everybody involved and just dictate the game.' James became the first player since Michael Jordan to have two 50-point games at the Garden, and the first to record a triple double in the famed arena since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar turned the trick in 1975. 'To be mentioned with the greats like Kareem and Mike is an honour,' James said. 'They're two of the baddest guys to ever play this game that ever walked on the face of this earth and carry a basketball.' Like Bryant, James thinks the great performances from arguably the two best players in the game today, have a lot to do with the history of the Garden. 'It's a different feeling when you come to this building, you feel like you're on stage playing the basketball more than being on court,' he explained. 'Then you think about the history - so many great performances, so many great coaches and players - have come through here.' Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 15 points, and Wally Szczerbiak had 12 with 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers (39-9) which looks to keep their unbeaten home record (23-0) alive when they meet the Lakers on Sunday. Al Harrington matched a season-best 39 points, for the Knicks (21-27) who put up a good fight after being blown out by the Cavs in the first two meetings. 'This is one of those games you could say it's a feel good loss,' Harrington said. 'I think we're showing our growth.' The Knicks trailed 100-99 on David Lee's two free throws with two minutes remaining. However, James scored on a drive to give him 50 points, and hit Ilgauskas for an easy basket, making it 104-100 with 52 seconds remaining. James lost his balance and crashed to the floor after being fouled by Thomas on a drive with 22 ticks left. He got back up, and sank both free throws to seal the win. Elsewhere LA Lakers 115, Toronto Raptors 107 Kobe Bryant scored 36 points and fellow All-Star Pau Gasol added 31 with 15 rebounds, as the Lakers improved to 4-0 on their six-game road trip. Joey Graham had a career-high 24 points, and Jermaine O'Neal finished with 22, nine rebounds and nine blocked shots for Toronto (19-32) which lost All-Star forward Chris Bosh (right knee sprain) early in the final frame. Dallas Mavericks 104, Portland Trail Blazers 99 Josh Howard scored 23 points, German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki had 16 and 11 rebounds as the Mavs won their fourth in a row despite Brandon Roy's 26 points. Orlando Magic 126, LA Clippers 96 Anthony Johnson, filling in for injured All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson (dislocated right shoulder) scored a season-high 25 points with six three-pointers and the Magic (37-11) sent the sinking Clippers to their 21st loss in the last 23 games . New Jersey Nets 115, Washington Wizards 88 Devin Harris had 26 points, Vince Carter added 20 and the visiting Nets outscored the Eastern Conference-worst Wizards 59-35 in the second half en route to the blowout. Chicago Bulls 107, New Orleans Hornets 93 Derrick Rose scored 21 points, Ben Gordon had 19 and the visiting Bulls took advantage of the absence of All-Star guard Chris Paul (right groin strain) to hand the Hornets their fourth straight loss. Denver Nuggets 114, Oklahoma City Thunder 113 Carmelo Anthony capped a 32-point night by hitting the game- winning basket with 5.3 seconds left, giving the visiting Nuggets their third straight win. Kevin Durant paced Oklahoma City (11-38) with 31 points. Detroit Pistons 93, Miami Heat 90 Rodney Stuckey hit the tie-breaking jumper in the final minute, and Rasheed Wallace followed with a three-pointer with 20 seconds left and Pistons held off the visiting Heat. Dwyane Wade led Miami (26-22) with 29 points and 13 assists. Atlanta Hawks 94, Minnesota Timberwolves 86 Mike Bibby scored 24 points, Marvin Williams had 23 and the visiting Hawks tamed the T-Wolves. Memphis Grizzlies 104, Houston Rockets 93 OJ Mayo scored 32 points and the host Grizzlies won their second in a row following a 12-game slide. Golden State Warriors 124, Phoenix Suns 112 Stephen Jackson posted his first career triple double with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Warriors set the visiting Suns.