NEW YORK, 19 December 2005 — LeBron James scored 41 points and had 10 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Heat 115-107 in the National Basketball Association Saturday, handing Pat Riley his first loss since returning to coach Miami.
Donyell Marshall added a season-high 25 points for the Cavaliers, ending a four-game winning streak for Miami, three of which came since Riley returned from the front office to coach the team, replacing Stan van Gundy.
The Cavaliers have won two straight games coming off a stretch where they lost seven of nine games.
James added five assists and went 12-for-13 from the foul line in the win, but the Cavaliers lost Drew Gooden with a sprained ankle in the first half. He left the game and didn’t return after landing awkwardly on Shaquille O’Neal’s boot.
Larry Hughes added 20 points for the Cavaliers, who led by 20 points after three quarters against a sluggish Miami defense.
Miami was playing its fourth game in five nights, but Riley felt his team would not have stopped James no matter what.
“He’s like a freight train with Dwyane Wade’s speed,” Riley said.
Wade led the Heat with 33 points and had seven assists and Alonzo Morning chipped in with 14 points, six assists and three blocks.
O’Neal had his lowest scoring game of the season with just 10 points, playing just 27 minutes and shooting 5-for-10 from the field and missing all of his three free throws.
In Los Angeles, Sam Cassell scored 22 points as the Clippers beat the Houston Rockets 89-81. Elton Brand added 20 points for the Clippers. Tracy McGrady scored 29 points and Yao Ming added 22 for the Rockets.
In New York, Jermaine O’Neal scored 31 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Knicks 102-96. Jamaal Tinsley added 23 points for the Pacers.
Stephon Marbury scored 25 points and Jamal Crawford added 15 for the Knicks.
In Charlotte, Chauncey Billups scored 21 points and had 12 assists as the Detroit Pistons beat the Bobcats 103-78, improving to 18-3. Richard Hamilton added 15 points for the Pistons.
Primoz Brezec scored 17 points and Emeka Okafor added 14 points and had 13 rebounds for the Bobcats.
In Memphis, Mike Miller scored 14 points and had 11 rebounds as the Grizzlies beat the Phoenix Suns 91-87.
In San Antonio, Michael Finely hit a 20-foot jumper with 2.5 seconds left as the Spurs edged the Sacramento Kings 90-89.
In Chicago, Mike Sweetney scored 24 points as the Bulls beat the Boston Celtics 118-86.
In Milwaukee, Michael Redd scored 19 points as the Utah Jazz beat the Bucks 88-80.
