Not enough
LeBron James never played better. It still wasn’t enough.
James became the youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game, but his franchise-record 56 weren’t enough to prevent the Toronto Raptors from beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-98 on Sunday in Toronto.
“I probably played the best game of my life but it means nothing when it comes with a loss,” James said.
He easily surpassed his previous career best of 43 points, set Nov. 24 against Detroit. However, he committed a key turnover with 16 seconds left and missed a pair of 3-point attempts in the final 14 seconds.
James finished 18 for 36 from the field and 14 for 15 from the line. He also had six 3s, 10 rebounds and five assists. But Toronto’s bench did in the Cavaliers, outscoring Cleveland’s reserves 34-1.
“I don’t care about individual stats, especially when you lose. I was disappointed to have as good a game as I had and still come out with a loss,” James said.
At 20 years, 80 days old, James eclipsed Rick Barry as the youngest player to score 50 points. Barry was 21 years, 261 days old when he scored 57 for San Francisco against the New York Knicks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
James’ point total also bested the previous Cavaliers mark of 50 set by Walt Wesley against Cincinnati on Feb. 19, 1971.
Jalen Rose led the Raptors with 30 points and Donyell Marshall had 24.
Pistons 110, Spurs 101: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Chauncey Billups scored 25 points, including five straight late after the Spurs pulled within two, to lead Detroit to its 12th straight home victory by defeating San Antonio. Tayshaun Price scored 22, Rasheed Wallace had 15 and Richard Hamilton, limited by a sprained left ankle, added 11 points.
Nets 94, Pacers 85: At Indianapolis, Vince Carter scored 39 points, including 14 in the third quarter when New Jersey pulled away for a season-best fourth straight win by beating Indiana. Reggie Miller was held to 13. Jason Kidd had 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for New Jersey.
Suns 97, Grizzlies 91: At Memphis, Tenn., Joe Johnson scored 28 points, including a 3-pointer with half a minute to play, to lead Phoenix over Memphis. Steve Nash had 13 points and 13 assists for the Suns, while Shawn Marion had 14 points and 16 rebounds. Phoenix scored fewer than 100 points for the first time in 17 games, and had 21 turnovers to match its season high. Memphis was led by Shane Battier with 20 points.
Timberwolves 94, Rockets 86: At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 30 points, 17 rebounds and six assists to lead Minnesota over Houston. Yao Ming had 21 points and five rebounds for Houston, but did most of his damage in the first quarter.
Nuggets 114, Bucks 103: At Denver, Andre Miller had 22 points and eight assists and Denver made more than half their shots for the third straight game in a victory over Milwaukee. It was Denver’s 11th win in 12 games. Desmond Mason led the Bucks with 24 points.
Warriors 104, Kings 94: At Sacramento, Calif., Troy Murphy scored 29 points and had 14 rebounds, and Golden State won its third straight game, a win over Sacramento. Mike Bibby scored 24 points and had eight assists for the Kings before he was ejected in the game’s final minute.
Duncan out with ankle injury
San Antonio star Tim Duncan crumpled to the floor with a sprained right ankle in the opening minutes against Detroit.
The Spurs said X-rays were negative and Duncan is day to day, but coach Gregg Popovich indicated he doesn’t expect Duncan to return soon.
Before he left the arena, Duncan said he didn’t know how serious the injury was. He missed two games earlier this month with a sprained right ankle.
“It’s the same ankle that he sprained a couple weeks ago, but this was much worse,” Popovich said after the game. “It’s going to be a while.”
Grizzlies activate Gasol
Memphis forward Pau Gasol was activated from the injured list in time for the game against Phoenix.
To make room for Gasol, Memphis put Ryan Humphrey on the injured list with a strained left groin.