11/29/06 - Knicks @ Cavs - Postgame & Comments

Preview:LeBron James is the face of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he's been getting solid contributions from his teammates in key situations lately.

James and company look to win their seventh straight home game Wednesday when the Cavaliers host the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena.

Cleveland (9-5) has won its last two games over New York (5-11), including a 102-96 road victory Nov. 13 that featured a breakout game from Damon Jones, who came off the bench to score 29 points on 7-of-10 shooting from 3-point range and has played well ever since.

Jones entered the game against New York averaging just 4.5 points on 31.3 percent shooting in his first six games. Since that game, though, the nine-year veteran is averaging 13.9 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, including 43.8 percent from 3-point range (21-of-48).

In the Cavs' 108-95 home victory Saturday over Philadelphia, Zydrunas Ilgauskas came up with a huge performance.

After scoring a season-low two points in their loss Friday to Indiana, Ilgauskas had season highs of 18 points, 15 rebounds - including a franchise record-tying 12 offensive - and five blocks.

'''Z' did a tremendous job,'' Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. ``He got on the ground three or four times going after loose balls, that's a heck of an effort for a guy that's 7-foot-3. His points and rebounds were tremendous, but his five blocks is what I like to see.''

James had 25 points and 11 assists against the 76ers, and had 29 points against the Knicks earlier this season. He's averaging 33.7 points in his last three games against New York.

Brown expects guard Larry Hughes to play after missing the last six games with a high ankle sprain. Hughes started the first eight games of the season, averaging 13.8 points.

The Cavs are off to a 7-1 start at Quicken Loans Arena after going 31-10 at home last season.