James, New Cavs Roll Past Grizzlies

[February 25, 2008]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James and his new teammates didn't need any time getting acquainted. James scored 25 points and had 11 assists while all four players acquired in Thursday's blockbuster trade contributed, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers past Memphis 109-89 Sunday night.

As debuts go, these new-look Cavaliers were a smashing success. Cleveland built a 28-point lead midway through the second quarter and coasted to victory.

Ben Wallace, who started at power forward, scored 12 points, tying his season high, and had 10 rebounds, while Delonte West, the starter at point guard, scored five points with six assists.

The other two players picked up in the deal, forward Joe Smith and guard Wally Szczerbiak, came off the bench late in the first quarter. Smith scored 14 points while Szczerbiak had 10.

James, addressing the additions before the game, was emphatic that the trade will improve the team.

"It's going to work," he said. "I'm not worried about that. It's going to work."

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said his lineup and combinations he uses could change frequently until the players get comfortable playing together. The other three starters were James at power forward, Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center and Devin Brown at guard.

All four new players received loud ovations throughout the evening. The Cavaliers gave a video tribute to them before the game, fans were given "Welcome to the Family" signs and several "Big Ben" T-shirts were spotted in the crowd.

Wallace and Smith were acquired from Chicago while West and Szczerbiak were picked up from Seattle in the three-team, 11-player deal that was finalized minutes before the deadline.

It didn't take long for the newcomers to make an impact. Wallace brought the crowd to its feet with a dunk less than two minutes into the game and West hit a 3-pointer midway through the period.

Smith hit a 17-foot jumper early in the second period while Szczerbiak scored on a layup off a feed from Devin Brown midway through the period. That basket gave the Cavaliers their biggest lead, 47-19.

One of the biggest ovations of the night came when Wallace, a 42 percent free throw shooter this season, knocked down two foul shots late in the first quarter.

Memphis played without swingman Mike Miller, who missed his third straight game with a sore back. Ironically, it was rumored Miller would be traded to Cleveland as the deadline approached.

The Grizzlies, who have lost 10 of 11, cut the lead to 12 in the fourth period, but the huge deficit was too much to overcome. Hakim Warrick led Memphis with 21 points while Rudy Gay added 19.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.