NEW YORK – LeBron James scored 52 points to join Michael Jordan as the only visiting players with multiple 50-point games at the present Madison Square Garden, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 107-102 win over the New York Knicks in the NBA on Wednesday.
Two nights after Kobe Bryant set a record at the present building with 61 points, James added 11 assists and 10 rebounds to record his 21st career triple double and become the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975 to have a triple-double in a 50-point game. James grabbed his final rebound with under 2 seconds left.
The Cavaliers have won four straight.
In Dallas, Josh Howard scored 23 points to lead Dallas over Portland, 104-99.
Jason Terry added 20 points, while Jason Kidd had 10 assists to move into fourth place on the career assist list, surpassing Oscar Robertson.
Portland slipped 2-1/2 games behind Northwest Division leader Denver.
In Toronto, Los Angeles notched its fourth straight win by seeing off Toronto, 115-107.
Kobe Bryant scored 36 points and Pau Gasol added 31 for the Lakers, who tuned up for Thursday’s game against the Celtics – their first trip to Boston since losing last season’s NBA finals.
The Raptors have lost four straight and All-Star Chris Bosh went off with a sprained right knee in the final quarter.
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Rodney Stuckey hit two jump shots in the final 90 seconds to get Detroit home against Miami, 93-90.
Stuckey finished with 18 points for the Pistons.
In New Orleans, the hosts slumped to their fourth straight loss, beaten by Chicago, 107-93.
Derrick Rose scored 21 points, and Ben Gordon had 19 for the Bulls.
New Orleans star Chris Paul missed the game because of a strained right groin.
In Orlando, Florida, Anthony Johnson had a season-high 25 points for Orlando in place of injured All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson, leading Orlando over Los Angeles, 126-96.
Johnson took control in the Magic’s first game since Nelson tore the labrum in his right shoulder, and doubled his regular-season career high with six three-pointers. He was 6-for-8 from beyond the arc and the Magic made 16 three-pointers.
The Clippers have lost seven straight.
In Minneapolis, Marvin Williams had 23 points and 10 rebounds in Atlanta’s 94-86 win over Minnesota.
Josh Smith added 19 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Bibby had 24 points and seven assists for the Hawks.
In Oklahoma City, Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points, including the winning basket with five seconds left, to help Denver pip Oklahoma City, 114-113.
It was the Nuggets’ third game in a row.
In Memphis, Tennessee, O.J. Mayo piled on 32 points as Memphis comfortably beat Houston, 104-93.
Rudy Gay had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies.
In Oakland, California, Stephen Jackson had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, spurring Golden State to a 124-112 victory over Phoenix.
The Warriors started the game on a 17-2 run to set up the win.
In Washington, New Jersey shot a season-high 61 percent to thrash an undermanned Washington, 115-88.
Devin Harris scored 26 points to top the scoring for the Nets, who made 12 of 22 three-pointers and turned the game into a rout by outscoring the Wizards 35-18 in the third quarter. (AP)