Cavs @ Knicks

LeBron James has become the latest NBA superstar to invade the infamous Madison Square Garden in New York. James already has posted two home wins versus the Knicks this year and now can add a road victory against them as well. The Cavs 92-86 victory over the Knicks wasn't as close as the score deams it to be. After a Jeff McInnis 3-pointer, the Cavs held an 81-58 lead with just over seven minutes to play. The crowd showed their displeasure, as they continually booed their team during their lackluster performance.

James scored 22 pts. in his first game at MSG, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas came away with his second consecutive impressive output, posting 31 pts. and 15 rebounds. With the win, the Cavs win the season series and gain a tie-breaker if the Cavs and Knicks finish the season with the same record.

Cleveland, coming off an impressive win over the defending world champion Spurs, came in and played with effort from the start. Ilauskas scored eight of the Cavs first 14 pts and ten total in the period. The Knicks seemed as though that they were going to give the Cavs as much as they could handle, as they went toe to toe with the score tied at 24 to end the first quarter.

During the second period of play, the Knicks began to fall apart. New York shot just 1-10 to end the second quarter, as they Cavs held the Knicks to just two points in the final four minutes of the half. The Cavs took a 44-40 lead into the break behind Ilguaskas' 18 pts. and 11 rebounds.

The third quarter opened and the game started to come to an end for New York. The Cavs and Knicks each scored on their opening possession, but it was all Cavs from there. Cleveland went on a 23-13 run and open up a comfortable 70-55 lead heading into the fourth. New York's offense was again kept in check, as the Cavs held the Knicks to two points in the final three minutes, on a Tim Thomas jumper.

The Cavs energy and defense carried over into the fourth. Ilgauskas scored the Cavs first eight points while the Knicks scored all but two points of their own during that stretch. Cleveland held a dominating 81-58 lead after McInnis nailed a 3-pointer. McInnis, not know for his 3-point accuracy, was 3-3 from behind the arc. From then on out, the Cavs defense was no where to be found. New York pulled to within 83-70 on a Shandon Anderson jumper. Then Stephon Marbury put on a show of his own. Marbury scored 14 straight Knick points and pulled N.Y. closer to 88-84 with 17 seconds to play. Boozer and James iced the game with a pair of free throws each.

Bot teams had problems from the field, as the Cavs shot 37% while the Knicks were a mere 38% from the floor. Cleveland held a monstrous advantage at the free throw line over N.Y. at 35-17. The Cavs connected on 27, while the Knicks hit on just 10 of their own. The teams were about even in the rebounding category, as the Knicks held a slight advantage at 53-53. The Cavs were led by Boozer's 17 and Z's 15, while Tim and Kurt Thomas each grabbed 11, respectively. New York will host the Cavs in their next meeting April 14, as it will be the Cavs final game to close out the season.

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