NBA -- Knicks rain on LeBron's homecoming party
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 01 Nov 2014
CHICAGO -- In his first home game since returning to Cleveland as a free agent last summer, LeBron James showed very little of the stuff that makes him the best basketball player in the planet.
The two-time NBA champ and 4-time league MVP went just 5-for-15 from the field, including 1-for-5 from 3-point range. He grabbed five boards and dished four dimes in 43 minutes, but the king struggled with eight turnovers.
"I was throwing passes where I thought some of my teammates were," James told the Associated Press, hinting at some chemistry issues with his new teammates.
"I didn't press. I didn't do much," James added after the visiting New York Knicks stunned the Cavaliers on Thursday night before a sold-out crowd of 20,562 at the Quicken Loans Arena.
After taking a 16-8 lead with 5:44 to go in the opening quarter, the Knicks, who were blown out by the Bulls, 104-80, Monday night appeared headed for another disaster. But New York hung tough and stayed with the Cavs until finally breaking through in the third quarter where they seized a 67-70 advantage.
A Carmelo Anthony 3 with 6:19 left in the fourth period gave New York its biggest lead, 90-81. It was enough of a cushion to hold off the Cavs, who could have tied the contest at 85-all had Kevin Love made his long 3 with still 1:05 to go.
Anthony finished with 25 points to pace the Knicks while Iman Shumpert and Jason Smth added 12 each. JR Smith pitched in 11 as New York shot 53.6 percent from the field (37-of-69) and 50 percent from above the arc (6-of-12).
Kyrie Irving played well running the Cavs offense and tallied 22 points and 7 assists. Kevin Love, who was acquired from the Timberwolves during the preseason, had a fairly decent 19 points and 14 rebounds.
But the Cavs fate, ultimately came down to LeBron. And when he couldn't deliver like he normally does, the Cavs fell to 01 in the young season.
Up next for the Cavs is a road trip to Chicago against the Bulls at the United Center. (Homer D. Sayson)
Photo: In a clash of stars, Carmelo Anthony (R) bested LeBron James as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 95-90, at the Q Arena on Thursday night.
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