James still owns MSG
NEW YORK » LeBron James always said he loved playing here.
He must have really, really loved it last night — even with a deafening chorus of boos ringing in his ears.
James delivered another vintage performance at Madison Square Garden, scoring 32 points and finishing with his 30th career triple-double to help the Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks 113-91 for their 11th straight victory.
James had 11 rebounds and 10 assists, silencing a star-studded crowd that once cheered him lustily — in fact, he was always an MSG favorite — but jeered him this time because he snubbed the Knicks in free agency.
The frostiness didn’t seem to faze him, certainly not his game.
"This is a great building," James said. "Myself and D-Wade talk about it all the time. Certain buildings in this league that you just thrive on and you’re excited about, and this being the Mecca of basketball as a kid you always envision not only playing in the NBA but also having a chance to play in Madison Square Garden."
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James is the active scoring leader in the arena with 30.5 points per game, the only visiting player besides Michael Jordan with multiple 50-point games.
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh each scored 26 points, extending Miami’s longest winning streak since winning 12 in a row from Feb. 26 to March 19, 2005.
Lakers 93, 76ers 81
Lamar Odom scored 28 points, Pau Gasol had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Los Angeles beat host Philadelphia.
Hawks 90, Bobcats 85
Joe Johnson scored 16 points in his return to the Hawks’ lineup, Al Horford assisted on a crucial basket by Marvin Williams with just over a minute remaining, and Atlanta held off visiting Charlotte.
Clippers 109, Pistons 88
Blake Griffin had 24 points and 17 rebounds, and Los Angeles won its first road game of the season by beating host Detroit.
Pacers 108, Cavaliers 99
Danny Granger had 30 points and a season-high 12 rebounds to help host Indiana beat Cleveland, extending the Cavaliers’ losing streak to 10 games.
Raptors 98, Nets 92
Andrea Bargnani had 32 points and nine rebounds as Toronto beat visiting New Jersey for the sixth straight time.
Hornets 100, Jazz 71
David West scored 23 points and Chris Paul had 11 points and 10 assists to lead host New Orleans in a rout of Utah.
Thunder 102, Kings 87
Kevin Durant scored 24 points, Serge Ibaka added 12 points and 10 rebounds and Oklahoma City used a trio of fourth-quarter spurts to put away visiting Sacramento.
Mavericks 106, Suns 91
Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry scored 18 points apiece and surging Dallas beat visiting Phoenix, taking advantage of an injury to Suns guard Steve Nash.
Rockets 103, Grizzlies 87
On the night the Rockets learned Yao Ming is out for the season, Kevin Martin scored 34 points to lift Houston over visiting Memphis.
Trail Blazers 107, Timberwolves 102
LaMarcus Aldridge tied a career high with 36 points at home and Rudy Fernandez added a personal-best 26 as Portland beat Minnesota.
Heat 113, Knicks 91
MIAMI
Bosh 11-19 4-5 26, James 14-23 1-3 32, Ilgauskas 1-2 0-0 2, Arroyo 4-5 0-0 11, Wade 9-22 6-8 26, Anthony 1-1 0-0 2, Jones 0-2 2-2 2, Howard 1-1 0-0 2, Dampier 1-1 0-0 2, Chalmers 3-6 0-0 8, House 0-0 0-0 0, Magloire 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 45-82 13-18 113.
NEW YORK
Chandler 6-13 3-4 17, Gallinari 8-16 5-6 25, Stoudemire 11-28 2-7 24, Felton 3-12 2-4 8, Fields 2-7 1-2 5, Turiaf 0-1 0-0 0, Douglas 3-6 0-0 8, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Walker 1-3 0-0 2, Mozgov 0-1 0-0 0, Randolph 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 35-89 13-23 91.
Miami | 34 | 23 | 33 | 23 | — | 113 |
New York | 25 | 32 | 17 | 17 | — | 91 |
3-Point Goals–Miami 10-18 (Arroyo 3-3, James 3-6, Wade 2-3, Chalmers 2-4, Jones 0-2), New York 8-24 (Gallinari 4-8, Douglas 2-4, Chandler 2-5, Walker 0-1, Williams 0-1, Fields 0-2, Felton 0-3). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–Miami 57 (James 11), New York 49 (Stoudemire 14). Assists–Miami 19 (James 10), New York 24 (Felton 10). Total Fouls–Miami 20, New York 14. A–19,763 (19,763).