Monday, March 29, 2010
As their regular seasons wind down, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Pittsburgh Penguins are seeking top seeds in their conferences
Cavs crown Kings in Z’s return
Associated Press
CLEVELAND
The tribute began long before tip-off and didn’t end even after the final horn. It was emotional, comedic, slightly over-the-top.
And straight from the heart.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas will never forget it.
“It was something I’ll remember for a long time,” Ilgauskas said. “It’s probably one of my favorite experiences as a Cavalier.”
Cleveland welcomed back its adored center on Sunday, honoring the big man best known as “Z” throughout the Cavaliers’ 97-90 win over the undermanned Sacramento Kings, who nearly wrecked the celebration with a gutty performance that came up just short.
LeBron James scored 23 of his 34 points in the second half, Antawn Jamison added 26 and the Cavs finally put away the pesky Kings in the closing minutes to cap a day when Ilgauskas returned to the only home court he has known as an NBA player.
Afterward, the humble, gentle giant said he was overwhelmed by the public display of affection.
“I didn’t know that’s what it was going to turn into, Z day,” said Ilgauskas, who re-signed with Cleveland earlier this week after being traded to Washington in February for Jamison. “I’m sure people appreciate what I’ve done and stood for all these years and I appreciate what they’ve done for me and my family.
“It’s been a great ride.”
It’s not over.
Ilgauskas finished with just four points and six rebounds in 22 minutes, but those numbers hardly mattered. What was most important for Cleveland fans was seeing the beloved No. 11 back on the floor, the Cavs’ floor. Starting in pregame warmups, they cheered his every move.
When the 7-foot-3 center checked in with 4:02 left in the first, fans gave him a standing ovation, raising “Z” placards with his likeness on them and filling Quicken Loans Arena — “The Q” which was renamed “The Z” for the day in Ilgauskas’ honor — with the familiar chant of “Zeeeeeeeee.”
Ilgauskas raised his hand to acknowledge the cheers, which grew at the end of the first when he grabbed a miss by James and laid it in.
“I haven’t been nervous before a basketball game in a long time,” he said. “Today I was. The kids stayed away from me because I was a little testy. I just wanted to get here and start playing because it’s been a long time.”
While touched by the day’s emotion, James said he and his teammates had a little fun with their tallest teammate.
“We kind of laughed and joked that it was probably the second-most anticipated comeback besides when [Michael] Jordan retired,” James said. “It was a circus for Z — a good circus. I think these fans and Z definitely have something they cherish in one another.”
If not for James, the party would have been spoiled.
With Cleveland leading by four, James made a crucial 3-pointer with 2:02 left as the 24-second clock expired and then had a rebound and steal to help seal it for the Cavs, who have won 28 straight games against teams with losing records. Cleveland played without forward Anderson Varejao, who is nursing a sore left hamstring.
Beno Udrih had his first career triple-double (18 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds) for the Kings, who because of injuries dressed only nine players and then lost forward Dominic McGuire in the first quarter with a foot injury.
But despite being short-handed, the Kings didn’t lay down.
“I was really proud of our team,” coach Paul Westphal said. “We were playing with one guard [Udrih] and one center [Jason Thompson] and really seven players and I thought we got a phenomenal effort from a lot of people. We’re very proud of our team.”
Sacramento only trailed by two entering the fourth and a basket by Udrih — the team’s first field goal in nearly six minutes — brought the Kings within 94-90. That’s when James, the clear front-runner to win a second straight league MVP, dropped his big 3.
“He’s just a great player,” Udrih said of James, who added eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. “I can’t really give him enough credit. He does everything: rebounds, pushes the ball, finds his teammates. A lot of people still think he can’t shoot. But he knocked down big shots.”
Thompson added 16 points and 14 rebounds for Sacramento.
It’s been a strange, emotional season for Ilgauskas.
He lost his starting job when the team traded for center Shaquille O’Neal last summer.