NEW YORK _ All Michael Beasley could do was run for cover while LeBron James soared down the lane for an emphatic dunk late in the second quarter on Monday night at the Garden.
It was the kind of highlight that could land Beasley on a poster and LeBron on another billboard.
In what could have been Jeff Hornacek's final home game as coach of the sunken Knicks, James netted 26 points and dished out 11 assists in the Cavaliers' 123-109 victory. He provided a sellout crowd that included Masters champion Patrick Reed what it truly came to see on Fan Appreciation Night at MSG, even if LeBron has no plans to sign in New York as a free agent this summer.
James, who wore the words "I'M KING" on the back of black sneakers, had indicated before the game that he hasn't paid much attention to the downtrodden Knicks all season, although he did acknowledge hearing about and being humbled by the recruitment billboard that popped up outside the Garden last week imploring him to come to New York as a free agent.
Kevin Love scored a game-high 28 points and former Knick J.R. Smith added 16 as the Cavs improved to 19-9 since shaking up their roster at the February trade deadline (50-31 overall). They moved within a half-game of Philadelphia for the No. 3 playoff seed in the East, with another game against the depleted Knicks _ who fell to 11-39 in their last 50 games to drop into a tie with Brooklyn in the standings at 28-53 _ to conclude the regular season Wednesday in Cleveland.
"The biggest thing is they have shooters all over the place and LeBron can create and do whatever he wants," Hornacek said before the game. "So we're gonna have to really have a great effort on LeBron. Most of that will probably fall on Lance (Thomas), and whatever guys we put on him, they're just gonna have to battle. LeBron's gonna get his stuff, he's gonna get his assists.
"But we can't give them a lot of easy fast-break points. ... We have to play a smart game to beat them."
Yes, "good luck" with that, as Dwyane Wade had quipped last week when informed about the intent of the LeBron billboard on 7th Avenue between 31st and 32nd Streets. It depicts James' name on a Knicks No. 23 jersey, along with the hashtag #KINGJAMESNYC18 and the phrase "King of New York? Prove it."
Frank Ntilikina scored a career-high 17 points for the Knicks after LeBron also had complimented the rookie's improvement before the game. James indirectly had insulted the No. 8 overall pick out of France earlier this season by saying the Knicks should have drafted Dennis Smith Jr. instead. The four-time NBA MVP also engaged in a shoving match with the rookie guard during the previous meeting between the teams in November.
