By Paul Levine Oct 29, 2009, 8:12 GMT
Los Angeles - For the second game in as many nights, reigning league MVP LeBron James put up monster numbers, but it wasn't good enough to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers into into the NBA win column.
Italian sharpshooter Andrea Bargnani scored 28 points, Chris Bosh had 21 with 16 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors overcame James' 25th career triple double to beat the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91 on Wednesday night in their season opener.
'If you look at the numbers, everybody had the feeling for the game,' said Turkish star Hedo Turkoglu, who scored 12 points in his Raptors debut. 'All around, it was a good start to a new season, especially against a good team like Cleveland.'
After pouring in 38 points in a season-opening home loss to Boston on Tuesday night, James collected 23 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists for Cleveland, which opened 0-2 for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
'It's still an adjustment period for all of us,' James explained. 'We lost our offensive coordinator, so we are bringing in a whole new offensive system with Shaq (O'Neal) coming into the lineup, and other guys. We just have to keep working at it to get better.'
Mo Williams scored 16 points, and O'Neal added 12 with seven rebounds for the Cavs, who had won nine of the last 10 meetings against Toronto.
'It's a long season, we know what we have to do,' O'Neal said. 'We beat ourselves by not playing with a sense of urgency these last two nights. Coach is still learning us, we're still learning the system, it's a work in progress.'
With Bargnani scoring 21 points, the Raptors led by as many as 21 en route to a 57-39 halftime cushion.
The Cavaliers regrouped and pulled even at 69-69, but trailed 78- 71 entering the final 12 minutes. With James taking a breather, Bargnani nailed a three-pointer and a jumper in a 9-3 surge to open an 87-74 lead.
James returned and the Cavs got back into it on three-pointers by Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker. James missed the second of two free throws, but followed with a three of his own, bringing the visitors to within 96-90 with 1:37 remaining.
But Toronto's Jarrett Jack and Turkoglu sank a free throw each around one by James, before Jose Calderon converted a three-point play to seal the victory.
Elsewhere: Boston Celtics 92, Charlotte Bobcats 59 Ray Allen had 18 points while Paul Pierce added 15 and the Celtics (2-0) held the visiting Bobcats to a franchise-low scoring record.
Orlando Magic 120, Philadelphia 76ers 106 Dwight Howard had 21 points with 15 rebounds and the NBA Finalist Magic crushed the visiting Sixers in the season-opener for both teams. Marreese Speights scored 26 points for Philadelphia, which trailed by 31 after three quarters.
Atlanta Hawks 120, Indiana Pacers 109 Joe Johnson scored 25 points and Al Horford had 24 with 16 rebounds as the Hawks overcame Danny Granger's 31 points to pull away from the visiting Pacers in the opener for both teams.
Miami Heat 115, New York Knicks 93 Dwyane Wade tossed in 26 points, Jermaine O'Neal had 22 with 12 rebounds, and the Heat routed the visiting Knicks in the opener for both clubs. David Lee and Italy's Danilo Gallinari led New York with 22 points apiece.
Oklahoma City Thunder 102, Sacramento Kings 89 Kevin Durant had 25 points with 11 rebounds, Jeff Green added 24 points and the host Thunder spoiled the Kings coaching debut of Paul Westphal. Kevin Martin topped Sacramento with 27 points.
San Antonio Spurs 113, New Orleans Hornets 96 Frenchman Tony Parker scored 17 points, Argentine ace Manu Ginobili added 16 off the bench, and the host Spurs squashed the Hornets in the opener for both clubs. Chris Paul led all scorers with 26 points, while Emeka Okafor added 18 with 10 rebounds in his Hornets debut.
Minnesota Timberwolves 95, New Jersey Nets 93 Rookie Jonny Flynn scored 18 points and Damien Wilkins' put-back at the buzzer lifted the T-Wolves from a 19-point deficit in Kurt Rambis' coaching debut. Brook Lopez led New Jersey with 27 points and 15 rebounds.
Detroit Pistons 96, Memphis Grizzlies 74 Richard Hamilton scored 25 points while Ben Gordon added 22 in his Detroit debut as the Pistons routed the host Grizzlies in the opener for both clubs. Spaniard Marc Gasol topped Memphis with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Houston Rockets 108, Golden State Warriors 107 Newcomer Trevor Ariza scored 25 points, Argentine Luis Scola had 21 with 11 rebounds, and the Rockets edged the host Warriors in the opener for both teams.
Phoenix Suns 109, LA Clippers 107 Steve Nash scored 15 of his 24 points in the final quarter, rallying the Suns to a season-opening victory over the host Clippers. Marcus Camby had 23 points and 11 rebounds while Chris Kaman added 22 points for the Clippers, who fell to 0-2 after losing their opener to the NBA champion Lakers on Tuesday night.
Denver Nuggets 114, Utah Jazz 105 Carmelo Anthony poured in a game-high 30 points, rookie Ty Lawson added seven of his 17 in the decisive fourth-quarter, sparking the Nuggets past the visiting Jazz. Deron Williams led Utah with 28 points and 13 assists.
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