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NBA: Cavs win 10th straight at home in Knicks blowout

The red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers won a franchise-best 10th home game in a row in a 118-82 blowout of the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

LeBron James, who has been linked with a future move to New York, led a balanced scoring effort with 21 points and added six assists and five rebounds to power the Cavs to a 15-3 record.

Despite constant questions about his plans for 2010, when he becomes a free agent, last season’s NBA top scorer again proved the speculation was no distraction to him or his team.

“It’s a distraction for the Knicks, not for us,” James told reporters after sitting out the fourth period. “We’re good. We’re going to stay humble and play every game like it’s our last.”

Off-season acquisition Mo Williams added 16 points, while center Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavs in their biggest-ever win against the Knicks.

Cleveland led 61-35 at halftime and was able to give its starters significant rest as the team easily secured a 14th win in their last 15 contests.

Al Harrington scored 20 points, while David Lee recorded 16 points and 16 rebounds for the short-handed Knicks, beaten by the Cavs for the second time in eight days.

The Knicks were without five players, including estranged point guard Stephon Marbury, who has been told to stay away from the team after refusing to play against Detroit last month.

To add insult to injury for New York, forward Quentin Richardson was tossed from the contest after receiving his second technical foul during the second quarter.

“I think everybody’s frustrated,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “You usually get frustrated when you’re tired, and I thought that got to us.”

New York (8-10) has lost six of its last eight and has struggled for consistency since trading away two of its top players, Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph, on Nov. 21.

The move cleared financial space for the Knicks, ostensibly to make an attempt at signing James when he becomes a free agent in 2010.

Cleveland has won its last six games by more than 10 points, and leads the Central Division by 3.5 games.

Wednesday’s win was Cleveland’s 14th in 15 games. The 36-point margin of victory was the Cavs’ largest in 171 games against New York.

CELTICS 114, PACERS 96

At Boston, Rajon Rondo notched his first career triple-double and Ray Allen scored 31 points, leading the Boston Celtics over the Indiana Pacers for their 10th straight victory.

Rondo scored 16 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out a career-high 17 assists. Kevin Garnett added 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who matched their longest winning streak since their 2007-2008 championship season, a 10-game run from Feb. 24 to March 12.

LAKERS 114, 76ERS 102

At Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant tormented his hometown team again, scoring 32 points to help Los Angeles rebound from a last-second loss with a victory over Philadelphia.



Also on Wednesday it was:

• Hornets 104, Suns 91

• Trail Blazers 98, Wizards 92

• Rockets 103, Clippers 96

• Hawks 105, Grizzlies 95

• Heat 93, Jazz 89

• Magic 100, Timberwolves 89

• Bobcats 103, Thunder 97

• Bucks 97, Bulls 90
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