'Z' hits for 31; Cavs beat Knicks

NEW YORK (AP) -- The most respectful ovation went to Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The only chant was for Keith Van Horn.
Obviously, it was not a good afternoon for the New York Knicks.
Ilgauskas scored 31 points and LeBron James had 22 in his first game at Madison Square Garden, as the Cleveland Cavaliers built a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter and held off the Knicks 92-86 on Sunday.
"We didn't decide to play until the last seven minutes of the game," said Stephon Marbury, who shot 4-for-21 in the first three quarters before scoring 20 of his 30 points in a comeback that was too little and too late.
The matinee crowd booed the Knicks and chanted Van Horn's name, letting it be known they weren't happy seeing the home team play so poorly. New York lost for the fourth time in five games, and now embarks on a four-game Western road trip.
"Eventually we will click," Marbury said.
James didn't have his flashiest or most productive game, stepping aside to let Ilgauskas carry most of the offensive load.
Ilgauskas delivers
Ilgauskas scored Cleveland's first eight points of the fourth quarter, having his way against newly acquired backup center Nazr Mohammed, as the Cavs opened the final period with an 8-1 run to go ahead 78-56.
"What can I say?" Ilgauskas said. "It was one of those days where the hoop looked like a swimming pool."
New York had a 26-7 run to pull within four, but it wasn't enough.
Carlos Boozer added 14 points and 17 rebounds, and Jeff McInnis scored 13.
Marbury finished 13-for-34, while Penny Hardaway shot 2-for-13 and Tim Thomas -- the main player acquired a week earlier in the trade that sent Van Horn to Milwaukee -- had a quiet 10 points.
"Our chemistry isn't where it was four games ago. We have to get back there," Knicks coach Lenny Wilkens said.
It was 81-58 with 7:06 remaining when James implored his teammates, "C'mon, let's take 'em out." The Cavs wouldn't score again until 2:53 remained, but it made no difference as New York -- suddenly a struggling offensive team -- couldn't close the entire gap.
"When you're up by 23 points, you look at the clock and wonder why it's going so slow," James said.
Knicks falter
The game began to get away from the Knicks late in the second quarter, when they failed to score on seven of their final eight possessions. Cleveland led 44-40 at the break behind 18 points and 11 rebounds from Ilgauskas.
Ilgauskas' three-point play capped an 11-4 run to open the third quarter, putting the Cavs ahead 55-44, and Cleveland maintained an 11-point lead entering the fourth.
The booing increased as the Knicks scored just one point on their first seven possessions of the fourth quarter, and the Van Horn chant began as Othella Harrington stepped to the foul line with 9:26 remaining.
"When you lose, what can you expect?" Thomas said. "When we get back on a winning track, it'll be different. They're frustrated just like we as players are frustrated."