NBA Game Summary - Cleveland at Toronto

03.20.2005

Toronto, ON (Basketball News) - Jalen Rose poured in 30 points, Donyell Marshall added a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors defeated Cleveland, 105-98, despite a franchise-record 56 points by Cavaliers guard LeBron James.

Rafer Alston chipped in 16 points for Toronto, which snapped a two-game slide. Chris Bosh, who played despite a lower back injury, scored 11 points with seven rebounds in 39 minutes.

"It was definitely a team win today," said Rose.

James reached the 50-point plateau for the first time in his young career, and at 20-years old and 80 days became the youngest player in NBA history to turn the trick.

James ended 18-of-36 from the floor and also grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with five assists. He was 6-of-12 on three-pointers and 14-of-15 from the free throw line.

"I’ve never seen him (James) this good, but man he is awful good," said Cleveland head coach Paul Silas. "He is a special player. It is a shame to lose the ball game for him."

Drew Gooden contributed 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 10 points for struggling Cleveland, which has dropped three in a row and 13 of its last 21 games overall. The Cavs bench scored just one point.

James set the tone early by scoring 16 points in the first quarter, but Cleveland trailed 30-27 heading into the second.

Two free throws by Bosh gave Toronto some breathing room at 49-41 with 6:06 remaining in the first half. Cleveland fought back and trimmed the deficit to 55-53 heading into the locker room.

Marshall scored 14 points to pace the Raptors, while James netted 29 to pace all players at the break.

The third quarter was tight throughout with the only action coming when Ira Newble and Alston got into a heated exchange after Alston was fouled hard going to the basket. Cooler heads prevailed between the two players and Toronto carried a 75-74 lead into the fourth.

James settled down a bit in the third, scoring just eight points.

The Raptors would gain some much-needed breathing midway through the fourth. After two free throws by James made it 82-82, Toronto reeled of six straight points, capped by Bosh’s two free throws, to take an 88-82 lead midway through.

But James single-handedly kept the Cavs in the game with a three-pointer from the top of the key to cap off his performance and pull Cleveland within 101-98 with 43 seconds to go.

However, Alston converted a jumper at the other end and James followed by turning the ball over for the Cavs. Alston then drained two free throws to seal the game and account for the final margin.

Walt Wesley held the old Cleveland record for points in a game with 50, accomplished against Cincinnati on February 19, 1971...James’ 56 points were the most ever scored against Toronto. He recorded personal bests in field goals made, three-pointers made and points in a half...Prior to the game, Rick Barry was the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a game. At 21-years old and 261 days he scored 56 against the New York Knicks as a member of the San Francisco Warriors on December 14, 1965...Eric Snow finished scoreless in 40 minutes for Cleveland, which has dropped nine straight on the road...Toronto improved to 19-6 when scoring 100 or more points.

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