‘Z’ sets record in Cavs’ victory

CLEVELAND (AP) — As 20,000 fans filled the arena with the droning sound of his nickname, Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas choked back tears.

The big man, known simply as “Z,” finally had his moment.

“That was one of the coolest things I’ve experienced in my life,” he said.

Ilgauskas, who overcame severe foot injuries early in his career to become an All-Star center, scored 14 points and set a Cleveland team record for games played, and Shaquille O’Neal scored 12 as the Cavaliers dismantled Shaq’s former team with a 107-90 win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

LeBron James just missed a triple-double as the Cavs handed the Suns their second straight lopsided loss.

Ilgauskas, forced to accept a backup role when the Cavs acquired O’Neal, became the team’s career leader with 724 games played — finally. He had been expected to surpass former teammate and general manager Danny Ferry on Saturday against Dallas, but was never put in the game by coach Mike Brown.

The snub angered James, who called out Brown in support of his teammate.

When Ilgauskas checked in with 3:50 left in the first quarter, Cleveland fans broke into deafening chants of “ZZZZZZ” and gave the team’s career leader in rebounds and blocks an extended standing ovation that began as soon as the 7-foot-3 center began peeling off his warmups.

“That’s the closest I’ve ever come to tears on the basketball floor,” Ilgauskas said.

Ilgauskas stoically stood in front of his locker after the game. He didn’t field any questions and apologized to reporters for not being available since Saturday’s puzzling benching.

“Obviously, I was very disappointed I didn’t play in the last game,” he said.

“I know I’m a good player. It made me more disappointed and upset with acts that followed and this whole mess that has been created. I’m not going to go into any details. I’m going to be a bigger man and walk away from this. I know when I go to bed at night my conscience is clear.

“I love this team. I love my teammates. They are like a family to me. I’m going to come every day to work and try my hardest. Hopefully we can win a championship for this city because they deserve it. It has not been an easy ordeal.”