Curry, Kerr fined over Game 6 incidents

NEW YORK - Golden State star Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr were each hit with fines on Friday following incidents in the Warriors Game Six loss to Cleveland, the NBA said in a statement.

The league fined Curry $25,000 (22,200 euros) for hurling his mouthpiece into the crowd in disgust.

The incident prompted a technical foul and Curry's ejection with more than four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Kerr meanwhile was fined for scathing criticsm of the officiating during the post-game press conference.

The Warriors slumped to a 115-101 loss on Thursday as Cleveland leveled the series a 3-3 to set up a decisive final Game Seven on Sunday in Oakland.

Curry, the NBA Most Valuable Player and scoring leader, scored 30 points in the loss but stormed off the court after fouling out for the first time since 2013.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr backed Curry after the game before slamming officiating that he said allowed some players to be more physical than the league MVP.

"Let me be clear, we did not lose because of the officiating. They totally outplayed us and Cleveland deserved to win," Kerr said. "But those three of the six fouls were incredibly inappropriate calls for anybody, much less the MVP of the league."

"As the MVP of the league, we're talking about these touch fouls in the NBA Finals. Everybody's competing out there. There are fouls on every play. It's a physical game.

"If they're going to let Cleveland grab and hold these guys constantly on their cuts and then you're going to call these ticky-tack fouls on the MVP of the league to foul him out, I don't agree with that."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Curry, Irving seek shooting form in Finals

OAKLAND -- Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry and Cleveland Cavaliers playmaker Kyrie Irving will try to shake off poor shooting performances Sunday in game two of the NBA Finals.

NBA scoring champion Curry connected on only 4-of-15 shots for 11 points in the Warriors' 104-89 victory in Thursday's best-of-seven series opener while Irving hit just 7-of-22 from the floor but went 11-of-12 from the free throw line to score a game-high 26 points.

"I'm going to continue to have an aggressive mindset," Irving said. "You have to pick and choose your spots. It's just being more efficient in those spots when we're in transition, more efficient on those opportunities."

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Curry, who hit a record 402 3-pointers this season, will often be guarding Irving as he tries to bounce back from one of his worst showings.

"I just need to play better," Curry said. "When we're at our competitive best as a team is usually when I'm playing a pretty good game. I don't think I need to press to score a certain amount of points, but be more decisive with the ball."

That's the same thing Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue wants to see from Irving.

"We want Kyrie to be aggressive but it has to be sharp, quick attacks," Lue said. "You can't dribble for eight or nine seconds.

"But we need him to score. Kyrie is the one guy we have who can break down guys off the dribble, so it's going to be a fine line but he has to be quicker on the attack."

Lue also told Cavaliers star LeBron James to pick up the offensive pace and make quicker decisions just as Irving must.

"He can score with the best of them and you never want to take that aggression from him," James said of Irving. "We know as a team when the ball is moving and has good energy behind it, we're all in good rhythm."

Curry got a brief lesson in Saturday's practice from Jerry West, a Warriors part owner and executive who was a 1960s star for the Los Angeles Lakers.

West, whose silhouette was used for the NBA's logo, worked with Curry on hand positions but downplayed his effort, saying, "I'm no messenger."

Still, it was clear Curry was intently paying attention to every hint and idea.

"He has such a unique perspective and the little things he sees, especially from my game -- how to use leverage with your hands, use your body to create space -- that's invaluable advice," Curry said.

"When he comes around and gives us a little something that might help us it's important -- it's 'The Logo' so you take his advice strongly."

The two-day gap between games is a scheduling change made to better ensure players are at their peak and not too fatigued from nearly two months of playoff efforts.

"From a mental standpoint it's a little too long but from a physical standpoint it's great getting so much recovery," Irving said. "I know the league wants to see everyone at the top of their games playing at the highest level as healthy as they can be, so I don't really mind."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Curry magic as Warriors down Rockets

Stephen Curry turned on the style as the Golden State Warriors overcame a brave Houston Rockets fightback to triumph 123-110 and stretch their winning streak to 10 games.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Curry scored 35 points in a pulsating battle in Oakland to take the Warriors' record to 47-4 for the season.

The highlight of Curry's latest masterclass was his role in a remarkable passage of play in the third quarter, when he stripped the ball inside the Warriors paint and then darted forward to launch an attack.

An incredible behind-the-back pass found Andre Iguodala, who flipped to Leandro Barbosa to score.

The Rockets had fought back after a disastrous first quarter which saw the Warriors jump out to a 38-22 lead after only 11 minutes.

Houston fought back however with James Harden (37 points) and led 74-69 early in the second half.

Curry's 35-point night came despite 12-for-24 shooting for the Warriors, who improved to 24-0 at home this season with their 42nd consecutive victory at Oracle Arena.

Curry made seven three-pointers along with nine assists. Warriors' Australian center Andrew Bogut added 13 points while blocking six shots.

The Warriors now have the Chicago Bulls' remarkable 72-win season in their sights, a record benchmark long seen as unbeatable.

Elsewhere Tuesday, Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points but it was not enough to prevent the New York Knicks from sliding to defeat against the Washington Wizards in their first match since the dismissal of coach Derek Fisher.

Anthony drained a three-pointer with 67 seconds left to reduce Washington's lead to 106-101 but the Wizards held on for a 111-108 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Washington guards Bradley Beal and John Wall made a series of clutch shots down the stretch to seal the Wizards win.

Beal amassed 26 points while Wall weighed in with 28 points, 15 of them coming in an important fourth-quarter cameo.

In-form rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis finished with 20 points for the Knicks, who abruptly axed Fisher on Monday to replace him with assistant Kurt Rambis.

Anthony said shortly before tip-off that the Knicks locker room had been taken by surprise by team president Phil Jackson's decision to dump Fisher.

"This was something that I don't really know if it was a quick decision or was lingering," said Anthony.

"I'm not going to try to figure that part out but everybody found out as far as players around the same time yesterday morning."

Fisher was fired after the Knicks went on a protracted losing streak with nine losses in 10 games, including Sunday's defeat to the Denver Nuggets.

"It's tough," Anthony said. "When I wrap my brain around it and put everything into perspective, it's hard with how many coaches I've been through, how many players, how many different teammates.

"You just try to find some kind of consistency. The business of basketball is a tough business."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Steph Curry caps Manila visit with highlight-reel dunk

WATCH: Steph Curry caps Manila visit with highlight-reel dunk


MANILA - Stephen Curry is best known for his amazing shooting and range, but the 2014-2015 NBA Most Valuable Player can also throw it down.

In a visit to Manila on Saturday, the Golden State Warriors guard showed off his hops with an off-the-bounce, two-handed reverse slam to the delight of the crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The highlight reel dunk, captured in this video by Santino Honasan of ABS-CBN Sports, capped an eventful visit for Curry which saw him hold a skills clinic for high school athletes, and compete in a three-point shootout and a 15-minute scrimmage.

Curry, who was visiting Manila for the first time, performed the dunk after watching Ricci Rivero of La Salle Greenhills throw down a one-handed jam off the bounce.

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Steph Curry basks in love from Filipino fans

MANILA, Philippines -- NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors basked in the love and adoration from Filipino basketball fans as he made his first visit to Manila on Saturday.

Curry met with hundreds of fans - as well as members of sports media - Saturday at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati, as part of his 2015 Under Armour Roadshow.

"I feel the love, and I'm happy to be here," Curry told his fans.

The Warriors guard, wearing a "Thrilla in Manila" t-shirt, first met with Kapamilya teen heartthrob Daniel Padilla, Letran guard Mark Cruz, and several fans, then took the time to answer some questions in a brief conference before heading to the Mall of Asia Arena for a basketball clinic.

Curry offered some advice for the Gilas Pilipinas national team, who are hoping to qualify to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

"Just go at it," he said. "Don't hold anything back. It's an amazing opportunity that's in front of you. Show some heart, and hopefully, you'll achieve the goal that you've set."

Curry also acknowledged that the Warriors face a tough road in their title defense after seeing many of their rivals in the Western Conference load up their rosters, but he still believes that Golden State is "the team to beat."

"It's tough," he added. "It's gonna be a fun battle all year long."

From a personal standpoint, Curry said he is aiming to minimize his turnovers in the upcoming season, partly to win an on-going bet that he has with his mother.

"I want to do all those things again," Curry also said, when asked about his goals for the upcoming season. "There have been legends in this league that won multiple titles."

"I want to be a Hall-of-Famer, and be somebody that people remember for a long time," he added. "I want to inspire the next generation.''

"I want to keep building the game of basketball, like it was built before me."

Curry was joined in his visit by Under Armour chief executive and founder Kevin Plank.

"It's my first time here," Curry said, "But it won't be my last time."

"I'm coming back, for sure," he added, to the delight of the fans at the Fairmont.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LOOK: Stephen Curry arrives in Manila

MANILA - NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry is now in Manila.

Curry arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at around 9:30 a.m. Saturday on board a chartered jet from Tokyo, Japan.


The 27-year-old NBA star of the Golden State Warriors is scheduled to appear at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) this afternoon. He is expected to leave at around 6 p.m. for Beijing, China.

Curry's visit in Manila is part of the "UA Roadshow" tour. Curry is an endorser of sportswear company Under Armour.

Kapamilya star Daniel Padilla, a big basketball fan, will meet Curry. -- With report from Raoul Esperas

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Curry too hot for LeBron as MVP shotmaker sizzles

OAKLAND -- Steph Curry finally displayed the shotmaking skills that made him this season's NBA Most Valuable Player and as a result the Golden State Warriors are on the brink of ending a 40-year title drought.

Curry produced his finest performance of his first NBA Finals on Sunday, scoring 37 points to power the Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-91 as Golden State seized a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. The Warriors can claim their first crown since 1975 by winning game six Tuesday in Cleveland.

"He made some terrific shots," said Cavaliers coach Dave Blatt. "There are a few that he made, more than a few, that were extremely difficult shots, high-level shots by a high-level player. Sometimes you've got to take your hat off to the other guy. He made some tremendous shots. That's respect."

Curry connected on 13-of-23 shots from the floor, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range, and added seven rebounds and four assists. He scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, 12 of those in a decisive 19-5 late-game spurt that saw him sink two jaw-dropping 3-pointers.

"Tip your hat to a guy who makes shots like that and he's the guy that can do it," Cavaliers star LeBron James said. "He's the best shooter in our league."

Asked what more his team could have done to stop Curry, Blatt replied: "That's a really a good question. Not a lot you can do, honestly."

Curry, adding to the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a playoff run with every basket from beyond the arc, had struggled earlier in the series, shut down at times by hustling Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova, notably in game two when Curry was only 5-of-23 from the court and 2-of-15 on 3-pointers.

Curry had averaged 23.5 points a game but only shown flashes of the hot hand that helped Golden State to an NBA-best 67-15 record until Sunday, when he became the first player in NBA Finals history to make seven 3-pointers in multiple games of an NBA Finals, matching his game three output.

"He's one of the best shooters in our league," Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson said. "I guess he exploded."

- 'This is Steph's night' -

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he expected great things from Curry when he saw Cleveland remove Russian big man Timofey Mozgov for J.R. Smith to match a smaller, faster Golden State lineup.

"From the very beginning when they went small, I thought: 'This is Steph's night. This is going to be a big one for him because he has all that room,'" Kerr said.

"I just think sooner or later Steph's going to get going. He had a tough first couple of games. He got going at the end of game three and that's all it takes. Steph makes a couple shots. He feels like he's got it rolling and he has been great ever since. It's not really an adjustment. It's just the law of averages are that Steph's going to make some shots."

One 3-pointer came over two defenders after behind-the-back and crossover dribbles and brought a huge roar from the crowd, a possible defining moment.

"It was a fun moment, but it only means something after we win the championship because signature moments only come for players who are holding the trophy," Curry said.

And to that end, Curry has been willing to set up other teammates when he has been tightly defended, notably forward Andre Iguodala.

"Steph is a great player. His mind is getting better and better, and he has even more room to improve," Iguodala said. "He has just been an MVP for us."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Steph Curry powers Warriors to Game 5 win

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Steph Curry came alive in the fourth quarter of Game 5 to power the Golden State Warriors to a 104-91 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Curry scored 37 points, 17 of which came in the final period, as the Warriors finally broke the game open after the Cavs kept in step with them for three quarters.

Curry converted 13 of his 23 field goal attempts, including seven of 13 three-pointers, and added seven rebounds and four assists while playing 42 minutes.

The Warriors are now just one win away from claiming their first NBA title since 1975.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

James, Curry collide in dream finals showdown

OAKLAND -- Cleveland's LeBron James and Golden State's Stephen Curry have powered their teams into an NBA Finals showdown, but only one club can complete a fairy-tale run to a long-awaited crown.

James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is on the brink of realizing the dream that pushed him to leave the Miami Heat last July and return to the Cavaliers, who could become Cleveland's first major team sports champion since the 1964 NFL Browns won a crown in the pre-Super Bowl era -- the longest title drought of any US city.

"I'm a guy who believes in unfinished business," James said. "We all know how long it has been since a champion has been in this city."

Curry, this season's NBA Most Valuable Player, sparked the Warriors to the NBA's best record at 67-15 and has them in their first final in 40 years and on the verge of their first title since 1975.

"It's going to be a special joy these next two or three weeks to finish off this journey," Curry said. "The Bay Area has been waiting 40 years. It's time we got it done."

NBA icon James and Curry, the league's hottest new rising star, collide when the best-of-seven championship series begins Thursday at Oakland, California, on the home court where Golden State is an NBA-best 46-3 this season, including 7-1 in the playoffs.

"To get to the NBA Finals for the first time in 40 years for the Warriors, it's more than relief. It's joy," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Our players are feeling it and I know our fans are."

James, 30, and Curry, 27, were both born in Akron, Ohio. Curry's father Dell was playing for the Cavaliers when Steph was born but moved when his father went to another club. James became a prep star in Akron and later a top draft pick by Cleveland.

James sparked the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals in 2007, when they were swept by San Antonio. When they failed to return over the next three years, James departed for Miami.

In Miami, James won two NBA titles and reached the finals twice more. He returned home vowing to revamp the Cavaliers, who couldn't reach the playoffs without him, into champions.

"I hope everyone here understands that it's not easy to even get to this point," James said.

- Five in a row for LeBron -

James and reserve teammate James Jones, who spent the past four seasons in Miami, will become only the ninth and 10th players in NBA history to compete in the NBA Finals five years in a row. The only others were on the Boston Celtics dynasty that won nine titles in 10 consecutive trips to the final between 1957 and 1966.

James has averaged 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists a game in the post-season, adapting his roles as a separated left shoulder knocked out forward Kevin Love and left knee and right foot injuries slowed guard Kyrie Irving.

"That's a major dilemma for everybody," Kerr said of stopping James. "He's a great player, physically so strong. You know he is going to have a huge impact on the game. You just try to limit him as much as you can."

Curry has averaged 29.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.4 assists in the playoffs as defenders wonder how to limit him.

"Same way you slow me down -- you can't," James said. "He never stops moving. His ballhandling, his ability to shoot the ball off the dribble and catch, it's uncanny. He just creates so many matchup problems for your defense. You just have to always be aware."

Curry had 286 3-pointers this season, breaking his old NBA record from two seasons ago by 14, and Klay Thompson was second in the league with 239.

Curry has made an NBA-record 73 3-pointers in the playoffs and Thompson was next best with 45.

- Title for rookie coach -

First-year NBA coaches will meet in the finals for the first time since the league's inaugural season. Either Kerr or Cleveland's Dave Blatt will become the first rookie coach of a champion since Pat Riley with the 1982 Los Angeles Lakers.

"I just try not to get involved with what I feel and what I am in all this," Blatt said. "What I'm supposed to do is help my team win, coach this team to the best of my abilities, and the rest of the stuff is just story line."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Warriors book first NBA finals berth in 40 years

OAKLAND - The Golden State Warriors are headed to the NBA finals for the first time in 40 years, eliminating the Houston Rockets on Wednesday to set up a title showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Warriors, the best team in the regular season with 67 victories and 15 defeats, pulled away late to beat the Rockets 104-90 and seal a 4-1 series victory in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals.

They will battle Eastern Conference champions Cleveland, led by four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James, in their first championship series since 1975 -- when the Warriors won their only title.

The Warriors host game one in Oakland on June 4.

Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry, playing with a protective sleeve on his right arm after a frightening fall in game five, led the Warriors with 26 points.

Forward Harrison Barnes played a key role, helping Golden State break open a close contest with four straight baskets to cap an 11-2 scoring run that turned a six-point lead into an 87-72 Warriors advantage with 7:07 left to play.

The Warriors defense harried Rockets star guard James Harden into a dismal two-for-11 shooting performance. He missed all three of his three-point attempts and finished with an NBA playoff record 13 turnovers.

Harden, who scored a critical 45 points as the Rockets fended off elimination in game four, finished with 14 points.

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WATCH: Curry suffers horrific fall in Game 4

NBA Most Valuable Player Steph Curry suffered a bad fall during Game 4 of their Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets.

Golden State's prized player was going for a block against the Rockets’ Trevor Ariza when he got caught in the air after a fake by Ariza.

Curry went tumbling down the floor, nearly landing on his head. The player was immediately brought to the locker room for treatment.

The Warriors said Curry suffered a head contusion, adding that he is unlikely to return for the rest of the game.

But the season MVP shrugged off the pain and returned in the third quarter.

Houston is leading the game 93-73 as of posting time.

Golden State is enjoying a 3-0 series lead against Houston.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Durant scores 44 in triumphant Thunder return

OKLAHOMA CITY - Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant scored 44 points Wednesday in his return after missing six games, powering the Oklahoma City Thunder over visiting Phoenix 137-134 in overtime.

Durant had been sidelined by a sprained right ankle suffered in a loss two weeks ago at Golden State.

The superstar playmaker missed the Thunder's first 17 games of the season following surgery on his right foot, but Oklahoma City has gone 8-2 with Durant in the lineup and improved to 16-17 this season with the victory.

Durant, who also contributed a game-high 10 rebounds and team-best seven assists, connected on 13-of-23 shots from the field, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range, and made all 12 of his free-throw attempts, four of them in over-time.

Russell Westbrook added 20 points and Serge Ibaka added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Thunder.

Eric Bledsoe led the Suns with 29 points and a game-high eight assists while Markieff Morris added 25 points for Phoenix, which fell to 18-16.

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LeBron's epic night draws rave reviews

MIAMI - A career-best 61-points by LeBron James in Miami's latest home victory has teammates and rivals raving about the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player's latest success.

The 29-year-old sank his first eight 3-point attempts, scored 25 points in the third quarter to match the entire Charlotte lineup and powered the two-time defending NBA champions to a 124-107 win over Charlotte on Monday.

"It felt like I had a golf ball throwing it into the ocean," James said.

"I was able to get it going once again in the third quarter and I knew it would be one of those nights."

James broke the Heat record for points in a game, which had been 56 by Glen Rice in 1995.

"I haven't had an opportunity to soak it in or savour it just yet," James said.

"It is a surreal feeling for me. I don't know when I will have an opportunity to really understand what I was able to accomplish as an individual."

The Heat, 43-14, are battling with the Indiana Pacers for the best record in the Eastern Conference and the NBA but that didn't stop Indiana star Roy Hibbert from tweeting his appreciation of James' effort.

"damn @kingjames 61 is tough. Congrats," Hibbert posted on Twitter.

Heat teammate Shane Battier was a bit more tongue-in-cheek when he tweeted: "Anytime @kingjames and I combine to score 64 points, it's going to be a good night.....proud of my teammate tonight. That was a game!"

Battier compared James' deadly 3-point sharpshooting to a religious awakening.

"It was more of a spectacle than a basketball game," Battier said. "That's an all-time game right there.

"When you shoot 8-for-8, there's something psychological. It has more to do with a religious experience than a statistical experience.

"You're just so in tune with yourself. You're not thinking about mechanics. You're not thinking about fatigue. All you see is the hoop. It's pure. I'm a huge stat guy, but throw the stats out in a moment like that. It's total consciousness."

It's not like the Bobcats were not trying to stop James. They simply couldn't.

"He scored his points in a way that there's not much that you can do," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said.

The Bobcats even resorted to leaving a Heat player unguarded to double-team James all the time.

"It was the first time it has happened to me since high school where I felt like I was in a box-and-one," James said.

"I probably had just three or four shots where I was out of rhythm and just taking them" to establish how well he really was shooting.

So how well did James play?

"Phenomenal. Amazing. Stupendous. Immaculate," said James' Heat teammate Chris Bosh. "That's all."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LeBron takes out frustration of loss on Knicks

NEW YORK -- LeBron James, frustrated at himself and his Miami Heat teammates after being routed by Oklahoma City, took it out on the New York Knicks in a 106-91 triumph Saturday.

James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 30 points, grabbed eight rebounds and passed out seven assists to beat a Knicks team that had won four of its prior five games against Miami.

"I didn't like our performance in the second half against Oklahoma City and I took it upon myself to hold myself and the team accountable," James said.

"Tonight we got stops, we forced turnovers and got rebounds. We executed and when we do that we're a pretty good team."

The reigning NBA champion Heat were humbled 112-95 at home Wednesday by Oklahoma City, which has the NBA's best record. NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant netted 33 points for the Thunder.

The next day, James came to practice determined to use the lackluster loss as inspiration to make himself and his teammates better.

"This performance started two days ago," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He was on the court, drilling, sweating, letting everybody know this was not acceptable. His actions are speaking louder than his words."

The Heat (33-13) also wanted to ease the sting of a 102-92 loss at New York on January 9 and did so by out-hustling the Knicks (19-28).

"We wanted to be aggressive, disruptive," Spoelstra said. "It was good to see that aggressiveness. It was good to see that poise going down the stretch."

England football icon David Beckham, Australian actor Hugh Jackman and new NBA commissioner Adam Silver, at his first game as league boss after taking over from retired David Stern hours earlier, were among a sellout crowd of 19,812 at Madison Square Garden.

Carmelo Anthony, who led New York with 26 points, resorted to tackling James at one point in the third quarter to deny him a fast break basket, causing James to land on his left shoulder, which had an ice pack after the game.

"That's not the first time I've been tackled," James said. "It's not really a basketball play but he saw me with a full head of steam. He tried to wrap me up. He didn't intend for me to fall.

"That wasn't the story of the game. The way we played defensively, passed the ball, the way we pressed the game offensively, that was the story of the game.

"The way we played tonight is the way we want to play going forward. We want to use this as a springboard. We know we have to play more consistently."

The Knicks closed within 84-79 before James scored the last six points in a decisive 14-3 Miami run, including a steal and slam dunk and a fadeaway jumper while being double covered.

"I'm feeling good," James said. "I'm in a very good groove now. Hopefully that can translate into us winning."

After the Knicks pulled within 53-51 early in the third quarter, the Heat went on an 11-1 run that included six points by James, the most electrifying of them coming on an acrobatic bank shot while being fouled.

"LeBron was LeBron -- he made every play down the stretch to make sure they could walk out of the building with the win," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said.

The Knicks answered with an 11-3 run to pull within 77-71 entering the fourth quarter, but James would not be denied.

"When he gets it going like he did late in the fourth, he's tough to handle," Anthony said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LeBron celebrates 29th birthday with win at Denver

DENVER - LeBron James celebrated his 29th birthday by scoring 26 points and adding 10 assists Monday to spark the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat over the Denver Nuggets 97-94.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player helped the Heat improve to 24-7 while the Nuggets lost their seventh game in a row, the team's longest such skid since April of 2003, and fell to 14-16.

James missed the Heat's win at Portland on Saturday with left ankle and right groin issues and was a game-time decision against Denver, but responded with a solid performance, although netting fewer points than his NBA average of 35 points in games on his birthday.

"Great road win," James said. "We came in with a mindset that we wanted to end 2013 on the right note and we did.

"They made a run and we were able to withstand that and get a great road win."

Dwyane Wade scored 12 points for the Heat but departed in the third quarter with back spasms and did not return.

Chris Bosh added 17 points for Miami while Ty Lawson led Denver with 26 points.

Lawson sank a 3-pointer to put Denver ahead 91-90 but James answered with a jumper to put the Heat on top for good.

Ray Allen, who came off the Heat bench to score 13 points, followed with a basket before Wilson Chandler's dunk pulled the Nuggets within 93-92.

Miami's Michael Beasley answered with a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining to give the Heat a 96-92 edge.

Randy Foye hit a layup for Denver but Allen added a free throw to put Miami ahead by the final margin.

Lawson missed a 3-pointer but the Nuggets grabbed the ball to set up a last-second shot. The opportunity was squandered when Denver could not inbounds the ball within five seconds, committing a turnover to seal Miami's triumph.

"Heck of a shot by Beas down the stretch," James said. "Everybody made a contribution.

"We believe everyone can make a big contribution. We trust everyone. He made a great shot and we got a big win."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com