King James’s Cavaliers silence the Knicks

LEBRON James let his game do the talking on Wednesday as his NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers humbled the New York Knicks 126-94 at Madison Square Garden.

While the Cavs were dismantling the Knicks, Western Conference powerhouse Golden State were producing another dominant win of their own, routing the Clippers 115-98 in LA.

The Warriors launched a five-game road trip in emphatic style against the third-ranked team in the West.

Cleveland’s trip to New York was the Cavaliers’ first since last month’s comments by Phil Jackson in which the Knicks president described James’s business associates as a “posse” in an interview with ESPN.

James (pictured, AFP) found the term offensive, but insisted it didn’t give him extra motivation. “I’m motivated for the love of the game,” he said. “I’m motivated by the process. I’m motivated knowing my kids are watching me tonight on national television.

“So I don’t need more,” James said, adding that he had no plans to talk to Jackson about the matter.

His performance on the floor, however, spoke volumes. He scored 25 points, handed out seven assists and grabbed six rebounds.

Kyrie Irving scored 20 points and had six assists. Tristan Thompson pulled down a season-high 20 rebounds and Kevin Love had 16 points for the Cavs, who notched their sixth straight win at Madison Square Garden and their eight win in a row over the Knicks.

Cleveland led all the way and were never really threatened.

Defence was key in LA, where the Warriors raced to a 37-19 first-quarter lead – holding the Clippers to just 33 percent shooting in the opening peri- od. Klay Thompson scored cored 24 points and Draymond Green contributed 22 as the Warriors riors beat the Clippers for the seventh straight time.

Stephen Curry chippeded in 19 points and six assists.. He missed all eight of his threereepoint attempts but he came up with seven steals to help keep the Clippers outut of synch.

Kevin Durant added 16 6 points, eight rebounds and seven ven assists for the Warriors, who heldld Clippers forward Blake Griffin to just 12 points on five-of-20 shooting. ooting.

Jamal Crawford led the e Clippers with 21 points, while hile point guard Chris Paulul notched 15 points with h six rebounds and five assists. Up 62-49 at half-t half-time, Golden State had stretched their lead to 91-75 going into the fourth. TheyTh out-scored the Clippers 58-38 in the paint and handed o u t more than twice as many assists. While the Clippers were getting beatenb up at Staples Center, theth Los Angeles Lakers werewe taking a pounding in Houston, falling 134-95134 to the Rockets. EricE Gordon came off the bench to score 26 points and James HardenH added 25 a and eight assists as theth Rockets blew outo the Lakers to extende their NBArecordr streak of gamesg with at least 10 treys to 21.