LeBron James was more than ready for his NBA playoff debut, recording a triple-double while leading the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Washington Wizards 97-86 in their Eastern Conference series opener on Saturday.
James scored 32 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists -- including a Magic Johnson-like, no-look number late in the third quarter that all but put the Wizards away.
Cleveland's first game back in the playoffs since 1998 couldn't have gone much better.
PHOTO: AFP
The 21-year-old James got plenty of help from his supporting cast. Donyell Marshall added 19 points, Eric Snow 14 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Flip Murray 10 apiece for the Cavs.
The Wizards were only 25-of-36 from the 15-foot line and just 3-of-22 from long range.
Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, Washington's usually reliable offensive trio, which came in averaging 67.4 points combined, scored 48 as Cleveland's defense made it tough for any of them to get a good look at the basket.
PHOTO: AP
Spurs 122, Kings 88
At San Antonio, the Spurs got their NBA title defense off to a blazing start with 25 points from speedy Tony Parker and a surprising boost from Nick ``the Quick'' Van Exel, who scored 11 points in the decisive second quarter.
San Antonio's fleet-footed point guards led a 41-15 run in that quarter, staking the Spurs to a 34-point halftime lead. The second half was all garbage time in San Antonio's seventh victory in the last eight playoff series openers -- and the biggest postseason loss in Sacramento's history.
San Antonio made eight 3-pointers and 68 percent of its first-half shots -- both franchise records for a playoff half. Ten Spurs scored at least six points apiece in the game, and coach Gregg Popovich still got to rest his stars for Game 2 on Tuesday in the best-of-seven series.
Mike Bibby scored 17 points and Ron Artest had 16 on 7-of-21 shooting for the Kings, whose newfound defensive intensity is lost again after Artest labeled his surging club as ``the team to beat'' in the first round. Sacramento entered the playoffs with 25 wins in its last 36 games, including nine of 11 to earn its eighth straight postseason trip.
Heat 111, Bulls 106
At Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 30 points, including six straight in the fourth quarter to lead Miami back from its only deficit of the night, and added 11 assists to help take Game 1 of its Eastern Conference series.
Shaquille O'Neal added a monster night, 27 points and 16 rebounds for Miami -- which played the last 8.6 seconds without Wade, who hobbled to the locker room apparently riddled by cramps.
Ben Gordon scored 35 points and Andres Nocioni had an 18-point, 15-rebound effort for Chicago, which connected on 13 tries from 3-point range. Kirk Hinrich scored 19 points and had eight assists for the Bulls, who entered the game as the NBA's hottest team, winning 10 of their last 11 in the regular season.
Jason Williams added 17 points for the Heat.
The win added to an emotional time for Heat coach Pat Riley, whose 96-year-old mother Mary died on Friday. Riley's eyes reddened as he discussed his mother's death before the game, although he insisted that his personal turmoil will not distract him during the playoffs.
Clippers 89, Nuggets 87
At Los Angeles, Elton Brand had 21 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots in the first postseason game of his career, veteran Sam Cassell added 19 points and seven assists, and the Los Angles Clippers beat Denver.
Two free throws by Vladimir Radmanovic with 59.8 seconds left snapped an 87-all tie, and Denver's Carmelo Anthony missed three shots after that ,including a shot from the left corner as time expired.
Game 2 will be played Monday night at Staples Center before the best-of-seven, first-round series shifts to Denver for the third and fourth games.
Cuttino Mobley added 17 points for Los Angeles and Chris Kaman, another Clipper making his postseason debut, had 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Anthony and Andre Miller each had 25 points for the Nuggets. Marcus Camby had nine points and 10 rebounds and Kenyon Martin had nine points and eight boards.
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