NEW YORK -- LeBron James scored 33 points in his only visit to Madison Square Garden this season, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-91 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night. One night after managing just 42 second-half points in an ugly home loss to Chicago, the Cavaliers rang up 40 in the first quarter, leaving New York fans with little left to do besides cheer for the Yankees in attendance and enjoy another mesmerizing performance by James. He added nine assists and eight rebounds, but fell just shy of passing Kobe Bryant as the active scoring leader at the Garden. James improved his average to 30.4 points, with Bryant averaging 30.5 in 11 visits, according to STATS LLC James had scored 50 or more in two of his last three visits, joining Michael Jordan as the only visiting players with multiple 50-point games at the current building. Mo Williams scored 12 points for the Cavaliers, who have won six in a row against the Knicks and four straight at the Garden, where James loves to perform. New Yorkers are desperate for him to make it his full-time home when he becomes a free agent next summer, but the Knicks continue to offer nothing on the court that would make him consider a switch. As it is, he has as many victories at MSG this season as the Knicks, who fell to 1-5 overall. David Lee scored 21 points and former Cavs guard Larry Hughes had 18 for the Knicks, who played their first nationally televised home game since March 19, 2006, and showed they are still miles from being ready for prime time. James said he was still sore from a couple of falls in Thursday's 86-85 home loss, but vowed that wouldn't prevent him from playing the way he always does. Just to prove it, he then nearly outscored the entire Knicks team in the first quarter. James shot 8 of 9 in the period, with his second 3-pointer coming just before the buzzer to give him 19 points and make it 40-21. The Cavs made 16 of 22 shots (73 percent), closing the quarter with a 17-2 run that basically wrapped it up early. Before the second quarter started, the Yankees fan then went to the sideline and joined the crowd that included his pal Jay-Z in a standing ovation for Alex Rodriguez and six other members of the World Series champions who came onto the court between periods. James said before the game he wouldn't think about free agency until July, believing his team could contend for a title this season. The Cavs haven't been showing that yet, coming to New York with only a 3-3 record. They looked like championship material against the Knicks, whose defensive effort had to be disheartening to Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and Larry Johnson, who were in the crowd. They played for the franchise back when defense was their trademark. The Knicks did cut it to single digits with under 4 minutes to play, but James set up Williams for a basket, then knocked down a turnaround jumper to make it 95-82 with 2:47 remaining. Game notes Former Cleveland ace CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira were among the Yankees who came on the floor after the first quarter. The team celebrated its title with a parade through Lower Manhattan earlier Friday. James said he was asleep and didn't watch. Former Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, now a musician who has been nominated for a Latin Grammy, played the national anthem on his guitar, and Reggie Jackson also was in the crowd. ... J.J. Hickson made his first start of the season at forward for the Cavaliers, with Anderson Varejao coming off the bench for the first time. Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- Luol Deng scored 15 points and helped stop LeBron James on a drive in the final seconds as the Chicago Bulls ended Cleveland's three-game winning streak with an 86-85 win over the Cavaliers on Thursday night. Derrick Rose had 14 points and 11 assists and John Salmons added 14 points for the Bulls, who handed the Cavs their second loss at home. Cleveland, which lost to Boston in its opener, only lost two regular-season games and went 45-3 at Quicken Loans Arena last season. James, who led the Cavaliers with 25 points, lost the ball out of bounds with 3.2 seconds to go after powering his way to the basket. He drew contact on the play from both Deng and Joakim Noah but the officials didn't feel he was fouled.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 27 points, Shaquille O'Neal added a season-high 21 while wearing out Washington's big men and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their third straight, beating the Wizards 102-90 on Tuesday night. The Cavs trailed by 18 in the second quarter before turning up their defense and relying on their superstar combo of James and O'Neal to win their sixth straight at home over the Wizards. Mo Williams scored 15 and Daniel Gibson 14 for the Cavs, who made nine 3-pointers in the second half -- four in the fourth quarter when James was out. Williams and Gibson were a combined 7-for-9 on 3s. Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas scored 22 apiece to lead the Wizards. O'Neal's integration into their offense has been a slow process for the Cavs, but they are starting to figure out how to best use the perennial All-Star center, who came over in a June trade from Phoenix. O'Neal had easily his best game since coming to Cleveland. He made 7 of 9 field goals, 7 of 10 free throws, grabbed eight rebounds and put Washington's frontline in foul trouble. He also endeared himself to Cleveland fans by flattening Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson on a drive in the first half. Stevenson has been a pest to the Cavs, engaging in a war of words with James in the playoffs two years ago. The Cavs have been using the 7-foot-1 O'Neal and his 7-foot-3 backup, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, together with mixed results. But the pair are getting more comfortable and confident with every second they spend on the floor and have the potential to be a matchup nightmare for any team. Cleveland only led 78-73 after three, but the Cavs pushed their lead to 94-79 by making four 3s as James rested on the bench. James only played four minutes in the fourth quarter. Butler, back after missing one game with a bruised left knee, scored 17 in the first half but he and his teammates cooled off after halftime and fell into a bad habit of rushing shots. Cleveland trailed by 39-21 with 9:19 to go in the second quarter and were still down 12 when James re-entered the game with 7:35 left before half. But with James scoring 10 points, Gibson hitting two 3-pointers and O'Neal scoring eight and drawing fouls inside, the Cavs were within 54-50 at halftime. The Wizards had no answer for O'Neal and the Cavs used it to their advantage. They slowed the game down and pounded the ball inside to their big man, forcing JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche and Brendan Haywood to hack or pay. McGee picked up four fouls in less than 10 minutes. Game notes James did not vote and wanted to stay out of any discussion on Issue 3, a proposal to allow casinos in Ohio that was strongly supported by Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. "I don't want to get involved in that," James said with a laugh. "That's a sensitive subject in the NBA these days." ... During a timeout, Butler walked to midcourt and hugged a young couple who got engaged while the teams were huddling. ... Cavs G Delonte West was indicted on additional weapons and traffic charges stemming from his Sept. 17 arrest in Maryland. He scored just four points in 20 minutes but was active at both ends. Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

(Washington, DC) - A Prince George's County grand jury indicted Delonte West, a Washington area native who plays for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, on six weapons offenses Tuesday in a September incident in which he was arrested on the Capital Beltway with three loaded guns and an 8 1/2-inch bowie knife, authorities said.

In addition to the weapons offenses -- each of which is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison -- the grand jury also indicted West, 26, on one count each of reckless driving and negligent driving.

Prince George's prosecutors routinely seek jail time for people convicted of weapons charges, even first-time offenders. State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said West's case will be handled no differently than any other.

The Cavs are scheduled to play the Washington Wizards tonight in Cleveland.

Tad Carper, a Cavaliers spokesman, said team officials could not comment because they had yet to see the charges against West. The team had not heard from NBA officials regarding charges, Carper said. Phone calls to NBA headquarters were not answered, and West's attorney could not be reached for comment.

On Saturday, West, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound shooting guard, played for the first time this season, in the Cavaliers' fourth game. West scored 13 points as the Cavs defeated the Charlotte Bobcats.

According to the Associated Press, West took two leaves of absence during the Cavs' training camp and is being treated for bipolar disorder. Last week, West's wife filed a domestic violence report against him, the AP reported.

The weapons charges stem from a Sept. 17 incident in which West was traveling north on the Beltway about 10 p.m. in a three-wheeled motorcycle called a Can-Am Spyder when he allegedly cut off a county police officer near Route 214.

The officer pulled West over for making an unsafe lane change, and as the officer approached the motorcycle, West told him he had a handgun in his waistband.

The officer called for backup and searched West and his vehicle.

Three guns were found -- a 9mm Beretta in West's waistband, a Ruger .357 Magnum strapped to his leg, and a 12-gauge shotgun in a guitar case slung over his back, authorities said.

West also had additional shotgun shells in a backpack, authorities said.

It is not clear why West was so heavily armed. Shortly after the arrest, West's father, Dmitri West, said in an interview that his son was "looking behind his back and protecting himself."

(Copyright 2009 by The Washington Post. All rights reserved.)

CLEVELAND -- Before Delonte West headed to the locker room, Mo Williams grabbed his troubled teammate and pulled him close.

Williams wanted West to hear something and whispered in his ear.

"I told him, 'Stay with us,'" Williams said.

West scored 13 points -- all in the second half -- in his delayed season debut to spark Cleveland, Williams had 24, and LeBron James added an unselfish 14 as the Cavaliers, finally at full strength, beat Charlotte 90-79 on Saturday night.

Williams made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and James added nine assists and seven rebounds for the Cavs, 2-2 after an 0-2 start.

West's turbulent offseason finally brought him back to the floor. After missing all eight preseason games and Cleveland's first three of the regular season to deal with personal issues, West was cleared by team doctors, ending more than a month of drama.

He went 5-of-7 from the field and had two rebounds, two assists and a technical in 24 minutes.

"I thought he played terrific. He's been off and we had to walk him through a few plays here and there," Williams said, chuckling. "But besides that, he's just a basketball player. He knows the game. He knows the spots on the floor. He's familiar with us and it was great to have him back."

Vladimir Radmanovic scored 12 points, and D.J. Augustin and Gerald Wallace 11 apiece to lead Charlotte, which has never won in Cleveland.

West's off-court issues have threatened to derail the Cavs' plans to make a strong run at an NBA title. As much as the team has tried to downplay West's absences and insisted that he has not been a distraction, his cloudy and delicate situation has lingered.

Cavs general manager Danny Ferry has been working closely with team doctors and a support team around West. The team had "loosely" targeted Cleveland's second home game as West's return date, Ferry said, and the parties came to a consensus before Saturday's game.

"Steps were followed and this is the next step of his process," Ferry said. "We're taking it one day at a time, but he's doing well."

West, who has not spoken to reporters since media day last month, was not available for comment following the game.

His teammates were more than happy to do that for him.

"He's important to our team," James said. "He can sit out for two weeks and he comes back in and he's right in the flow. I've said it before, he's just that type of guy."

"It's vital that we have everybody as we take this journey," Shaquille O'Neal said.

The 26-year-old West, who has been treated in the past for bipolar disorder, was arrested in September for carrying three concealed weapons. He reported to training camp on time but missed the Cavs' first four practices without an excuse. He came back but then left for a week to deal with his personal matters.

Last week, West's wife filed a domestic violence report against him.

But that was all in the past -- for at least one night.

West hardly looked like he had missed any time, and his return had Cleveland's offense playing better than it has so far in this early season.

"We had a nice flow, and I think that helped him a lot, that we weren't struggling," Williams said. "He just came in and did what he did. He was confident. He made his plays. He made all the right decisions."

The Cavaliers trailed 46-45 early in the third before going on a 21-8 run -- much of it with O'Neal on the bench -- to open a 14-point lead entering the fourth. West was a factor in helping the Cavs distance themselves from the Bobcats, who were understandably exhausted after playing two overtimes Friday in a win over New York.

The Cavs are still getting used to playing with O'Neal, who made his first free throws of the season after 10 consecutive misses. He added eight points and five rebounds in 26 minutes. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, coming off the bench behind O'Neal, went 5-for-5 from the floor and had five blocks.

"Myself and him," O'Neal said. "We are the best center in the game."
James didn't have to dominate -- not that he couldn't have.

"LeBron got 14, but he could have had 50, the way he played," Bobcats coach Larry Brown said. "He's so unselfish."
 

MINNEAPOLIS -- LeBron James scored 24 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first victory of the season, 104-87 over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. James took most of the fourth quarter off, finishing with nine rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes and avoiding his first 0-3 start in five years. He shot 10 for 18 from the field while the Cavaliers used the renovated Timberwolves to revive their defense, which allowed an average of 98 points in defeats by Boston and Toronto this week. They were better offensively, too. Mo Williams added 20 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskus had 11 of his 15 points in the first half to help make up for some early lulls, and Daniel Gibson drained three 3-pointers during a 3-minute stretch of the fourth quarter to end any faint hope the Wolves had of repeating their rally from two nights earlier. Al Jefferson, working his way back into form from knee surgery last February, had a quiet 12 points and eight rebounds with Shaquille O'Neal jockeying for room with him underneath. Jefferson wished aloud beforehand he hadn't lost those 30 pounds during rehab, because of this matchup with the behemoth O'Neal, who had six points and seven rebounds. Jonny Flynn had 17 points for the Wolves, who again missed Kevin Love's rebounding ability. They overcame that deficiency to turn a 16-point deficit against New Jersey on Wednesday into a buzzer-beating victory. Cavaliers coach Mike Brown discussed his team's "bunker mentality" before the game, touting the importance of blocking out external expectations and criticism and joking that some of his relatives are afraid to call him because he's so focused on the job. James -- "The King" as his new extra-large teammate has simply called him -- usually doesn't break a sweat. If the stress of a losing streak to start this critical season, which could be his last in Cleveland, was getting to James, he wouldn't show it. During the 12-2 run the Cavs used to stretch their lead late in the second quarter, James was the picture of cool. He spent the first part of the period on the bench, watching the Wolves take a pair of one-point leads with their subs in, but shortly after re-entry he finished a fast break with a determined drive and spin dribble for a layup, foul and three-point play. Then after a steal by Anthony Parker, James raced to the hoop again and threw down a dunk from a foot or so inside the free throw line. His pull-up jumper gave the Cavs their biggest lead of the half, 51-38. At one point, a whistle stopped a transition and a couple of teammates faked like they were going to follow through on an alley-oop. James joined in and pretended to dunk the ball backward over his head, flashing a big smile. Game notes Delonte West was inactive again for the Cavaliers. He hasn't played yet because of personal issues. ... Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis was given permission from the medical staff to stretch Jefferson's playing time. Bothered by a sore Achilles' tendon this month, Jefferson played 25 minutes on Wednesday. The key will be how he feels the day after. "During the game he's probably going to feel fine," Rambis said. "We just don't want to stress him too much that we send him backwards." ... Vikings offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie, who could probably post up Shaq at 6-foot-8 and 335 pounds, sat courtside. He posted a picture on his Twitter feed and exclaimed: "I'm so close I can trip the ref!" Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

The Cavaliers have the highest of expectations this season and certainly did not
 expect an 0-2 begining to the season.   After losses to the Celtics and Raptors
 the Cavs wrap up their roadtrip certainly expecting a win tonite against the 
 youthful Minnesota Timberwolves.

 The Big early season problem for the Cavs has been getting the "Big Fella"
 Shaquille Oneal to fit in on both ends of the floor.  Shaq is shooting just
  48 percent from the field compared to his career average of 58 percent.

  The Cavs will be running into an upbeat Minnesota team, that rallied from
  16 points down with less than 7 minutes to play to beat New Jersey on
  Wednesday, 95-93.  Wolves 1st year Coach Kurt Rambis said,
  "They didn't quit."

   Hear all the action on WTAM 1100. Tip off with Joe Tait at 8p

   Cavs notes:

   Lebron James recorded his 25th career triple-double in Wednesdays loss
   to the Raptors. 

   James is shooting 46 percent in the first two games, but the 8 other Cavs
   who've seen action are making just 34.8 percent of their shots.

(Cleveland) - Shaquille O’Neal is looking to continue a sideline career in law enforcement now that he's in Ohio playing for the Cavaliers.

Spokesman John O’Brien with the Cuyahoga county sheriff's office says the Cavs center has applied to become a special deputy, with the right to carry a gun and make arrests. However, O’Neal would not be a paid, formal employee of the sheriff's department.

He previously served roles with law enforcement agencies in Arizona, Virginia and Florida.

The sheriff has forwarded the application to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, which is considering the request to deputize O’Neal. Holly Hollingsworth, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Attorney General, says if O’Neal is approved he'd have six months to undergo 36 hours of police training and would have to take the Ohio police exam.

(Copyright 2009 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

TORONTO -- Andrea Bargnani scored 28 points, Chris Bosh had 21 points and 16 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors overcame LeBron James' 25th career triple-double to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91 on Wednesday night. James had 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, but Cleveland opened its season with consecutive losses for the first time since an 0-3 start in 2004-05. James scored 38 points in Tuesday's 95-89 home loss to Boston. Mo Williams scored 16 points and Shaquille O'Neal had 12 for Cleveland, which had won five straight over Toronto and nine of 10. Hedo Turkoglu scored 12 points in his Raptors debut and Marco Belinelli had 10. Jose Calderon had 11 assists for Toronto. Trailing 78-71 to start the fourth, Cleveland coach Mike Brown left James on the bench and Toronto took advantage, outscoring the Cavaliers 9-3 and building an 87-74 lead by the time James returned with 8:40 remaining. Even with James back, Cleveland struggled to cut into the lead. A pair of free throws by Williams and a 3-pointer by Gibson cut it to 93-83 with 4:06 left, but Antoine Wright answered with a 3-pointer for Toronto. James wasn't done, making one free throw, then following up a miss from the line with a 3-pointer from the top to cut it to 96-90 with 1:37 left. Toronto guard Jarrett Jack stopped the run with a free throw and, after James made one more from the line, Turkoglu made a free throw and Calderon converted a three-point play. Bargnani had 13 points in the first while James was held to just three, making one of three shots, as Toronto led 27-22. Belinelli had 10 points, Bargnani scored eight more and the Raptors shot 10 for 17 in the second as the Cavaliers stumbled, going just 6 for 22. Toronto closed the second on a 16-7 run and led 57-39 at the break. James made four of Cleveland's six shots in the second and had 14 points at the half. It was Toronto's turn to go cold in the third, as the Raptors shot 5 for 15. Cleveland, meanwhile, used five 3-pointers to get back into it, and trailed 78-71 heading into the fourth. Game notes Cleveland was an NBA-best 16-3 in the second game of back-to-backs last season. ... Raptors guard Jose Calderon was honored at center court before the game for posting an NBA-record 98.1 free throw percentage last season, making 151 of 154. Calderon later missed his first two free throws. ... Cleveland's last loss to Toronto had been a 91-82 defeat on Nov. 30, 2007, a game that James skipped because of a sprained left index finger. ... James scored a career-high 56 points in a 105-98 loss at Toronto on March 20, 2005. Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press