Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

James outduels Garnett as Cavs beat Wolves
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-09 14:11

MINNEAPOLIS - If the Eastern Conference gets off to a slow start in the All-Star game on Feb. 19, coach Flip Saunders may want to try playing forward LeBron James at point guard. It worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Playing the point almost exclusively in the second half, James scored 12 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Cavaliers over the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-91.

"It does wonders for us because he's not only making plays for others, but he's also in attack mode from one end to the other," Cavs guard Damon Jones said of James' position switch.

In a matchup of two of the most successful players to make the jump from high school to the NBA, James and Kevin Garnett needed plenty of help from their teammates in this one.

James dominated the fourth quarter, while Garnett disappeared.

James got off to a slow start and was just 11-of-34 from the field, but he made the big shots when Cleveland needed them most, following a turnaround jumper on the low block with a 3-pointer that gave the Cavs a nine-point lead with 3 minutes to play.

"He's like a locomotive going to the basket," Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said. "It's almost physically impossible to stop him without fouling him."

Trenton Hassell did an admirable job harassing James, but unlike Garnett, the 21-year-old James took control when he wanted to.

"It's kind of hard to guard me 94 feet," James said. "I put a lot of pressure on the defense when I'm playing point guard."

Garnett was just 1-for-5 in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points, 18 rebounds and six assists.

The Timberwolves went on a 6-0 run late in the game to cut Cleveland's lead to 90-88 with 36 seconds to go, but James came right back with a driving layup to hand Minnesota its fourth loss in five games.
Page: 12



Selected Reuters sports pictures on February 7-8
Third annual Lingerie Bowl football game
Reuters sports pictures on February 6-7
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

China maps out plan for science development

 

   
 

Income-tax threshold raised for foreigners

 

   
 

Researchers predict modernizaton progress

 

   
 

China-Japan talks 'expect no breakthrough'

 

   
 

US Senate office cleared after powder found

 

   
 

'Chen is a saboteur of peace'

 

   
  James outduels Garnett as Cavs beat Wolves
   
  Bryant leads Lakers over Rockets; Yao has double-double
   
  Turin ready to unveil Olympics
   
  Zaragoza demolish Real Madrid 6-1 in Cup semi
   
  Juvetus extend lead as Inter lose to Fiorentina
   
  Nowitzki, Terry in NBA's 3-Point Shootout
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement