Monday, March 21, 2005
James became the youngest NBA player to score 50 points in a game.
TORONTO (AP) -- 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.
"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.
Outstanding effort
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.
"It's a good achievement, but I'd rather set it with a win," James said.
James' point total also bested the previous Cavaliers mark of 50 set by Walt Wesley against Cincinnati on Feb. 19, 1971.
"He's going to set a lot more records, you know, if he develops," Cleveland coach Paul Silas said. "He was just on fire tonight, he was just amazing and it was great to see."
Within three points
After cutting Toronto's lead to three with an off-balance 3-pointer, James paused before running up the floor and clapping his hands.
Rafer Alston followed with a layup, giving the Raptors a 103-98 lead with 23 seconds left. James, with four defenders converging on him, then turned the ball over as he was driving to the basket.
Alston followed with two free throws with 14 seconds to go, and James missed two 3-pointers before the final buzzer.
James' most spectacular points came on a dunk in the fourth quarter. He crossed over before blowing by Pape Sow and throwing down a thunderous dunk, yelling in the air afterward. James played all 48 minutes.
His 56 points were the most ever by a Raptors opponent.
"I thought he earned all 56," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "I mean, he hit some fadeaway 3s and shots, but he had two guys contesting him."
Drew Gooden added 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have lost nine straight road games and nine of 12 overall.
Gooden impressed
Gooden couldn't believe what he saw.
"They were doing all types of defenses against him, but he still kept scoring," Gooden said. "I just looked and thought, who would have thought someone like LeBron James would come out of high school and do this in his second year in the NBA? I looked at the clock, and he had 48 points with like five minutes left."
Jalen Rose had 30 points and Donyell Marshall added 24 for the Raptors.
James scored 29 points in the first two quarters, his most in any half. His previous record for a half was 28 on March 27, 2004, against New Jersey. He finished with 41 in that game.