James Scores 51 in OT Win Over Grizzlies

[January 16, 2008]  MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- LeBron James scored a season-high 51 points, including 25 in the fourth quarter and overtime, to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 132-124 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

James made 18 of 28 shots and also had nine assists and eight rebounds as the Cavaliers handed their Grizzlies their fifth straight loss.

James' 51 points tied Allen Iverson of the Nuggets for the single-game high in the NBA this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Iverson did it in Denver's 111-107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 5.

Rudy Gay scored 30 for the Grizzlies, and reserve Juan Carlos Navarro went 6-for-10 from 3-point range on his way to 26 points. Mike Conley had a career-high 20 points, and added seven assists.

The teams were tied at 113 at the end of regulation after Navarro's 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left. James missed the game-winner from 19 feet as time expired.

Pau Gasol finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who shot 54 percent from the field.

Cleveland shot 53 percent in winning its ninth game in the last 12.

Daniel Gibson scored 18 for the Cavaliers, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 14. Drew Gooden finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Memphis trailed by as many as 10 early in the fourth, and at one point, James scored 10 straight Cleveland points.

But back-to-back 3-pointers by Gay followed by a James turnover that led to a fastbreak basket by Navarro helped Memphis take a 106-104 lead with 2:55 remaining.

Neither team could gain much of an advantage the rest of the way, including three more ties in the final 1:28 in regulation.

James had 13 points, and Gibson added 10 to help Cleveland take a 56-53 lead at halftime.

Navarro provided a spark for the Grizzlies with 11 first-half points, and Gay had 10.

Notes: James' career high is 56 points against Toronto in March 2005. ... Tuesday's game started a stretch where the Cavaliers will play six of eight games on the road. ... Gibson's 3-pointer in the second period gave him 24 straight games connecting from outside the arc, second-longest streak in Cavaliers history. Mark Price, now the Grizzlies shooting coach, holds the Cleveland record with 34 straight games in the 1989-90 season. ... Grizzlies C Darko Milicic left the game just before the half with right knee soreness and did not return.

[Associated Press; By HOWARD FENDRICH]

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