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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Game 61: Cavs at Knicks

CAVS (12-49) 119, NEW YORK KNICKS (31-29) 115
at Madison Square Garden
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio


WHAT HAPPENED: Baron Davis’ debut with the Cavs was quite memorable. He had 18 points and five assists in the Cavs’ upset at Madison Square Garden on Friday. His 3-pointer with 10.6 seconds left opened up a 116-112 lead.

Coach Byron Scott threw his fist after the shot and displayed more emotion than I've ever seen him show. It was quite cool, actually.

The Cavs (12-49) didn’t seal the win until Samardo Samuels drew a charging foul on Carmelo Anthony with 1.8 seconds remaining. I was shocked by official Scott Foster made the call. It was the right one, but it's hard to make that call in that juncture of the game.

The Cavs are 3-0 vs. the Knicks this season. They’ve also won 11 in a row overall, as well as the last five at the Garden. As an aside, if you think the Knicks are going anywhere in the playoffs this year, think again. Not happening in 2011.

Center J.J. Hickson had 23 points and eight rebounds and helped the Cavs snap a 26-game losing streak on the road. They hadn't won on the road since Nov. 9 at New Jersey (they like the tri-state area, as you can see).

Forward/center Amar’e Stoudemire tied a season high with 41 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks (31-29), while Anthony added 29 points.

Davis will make a big difference for the Cavs, if he's motivated. He sure was on Friday in the Big Apple. He sounds like he wants to prove people wrong. That can go a long way for a basketball player.

The Knicks played without starting point guard Chauncey Billups. He ran into Magic center Dwight Howard and hasn't been the same since. Such is the case of a 34-year-old point guard. He's really good, but he's also on the downward side of his career.

One could make the same case of Davis. But he certainly played well on Friday. He has a date with former team New Orleans on Sunday.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Carmelo Anthony (6-8, 230)
PF Samardo Samuels (6-9, 260) vs. Amar'e Stoudemire (6-10, 240)
C J.J. Hickson (6-9, 242) vs. Jared Jeffries (6-11, 240)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Landry Fields (6-7, 210)
PG Ramon Sessions (6-3, 190) vs. Toney Douglas (6-2, 185)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – F Antawn Jamison, G Daniel Gibson, C Anderson Varejao.
Knicks – G Chauncey Billups, G Andy Rautins, C Ronny Turiaf.
OFFICIALS
Scott Foster, Derrick Collins, Violet Palmer

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