Box Score

 

CLEVELAND (92)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
R Davis             41  7-15   0-0   0-3   5   2   14
C Boozer            39  7-15   0-0  2-11   3   3   14
Z Ilgauskas         32   2-8   5-6   3-8   0   5    9
D Miles             29   2-6   0-0   0-0   5   3    4
L James             42 12-20   1-3   2-6   9   3   25
J Bremer            27  7-13   0-0   0-2   2   3   20
K Ollie              5   0-1   0-0   0-1   0   1    0
D Diop              16   1-3   0-0   2-5   0   4    2
C Mihm               9   2-5   0-0   1-3   0   1    4
M Stewart          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
J McCoy            DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
J Kapono           DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 40-86  6-9  10-39  24  25   92
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.465, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
6-11, .545 (L James 0-2, J Bremer 6-9). Team 
Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:9 (C Boozer 4, D 
Miles 2, Z Ilgauskas, D Diop, C Mihm). 
Turnovers:14 (R Davis 4, Z Ilgauskas 3, C 
Boozer 2, L James 2, K Ollie, D Miles, D 
Diop). Steals: 6 (L James 4, R Davis, J 
Bremer).


SACRAMENTO (106)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
P Stojakovic        40  9-20   2-2   2-7   4   1   22
B Miller            37  6-11   4-5   4-9   4   2   16
V Divac             39  7-11   4-5   3-7   4   3   18
D Christie          31  6-14   0-0   1-4   3   2   12
M Bibby             36  8-15   3-4   1-2   7   0   19
B Jackson           20  7-12   2-2   0-1   3   1   16
T Massenburg        13   0-1   0-0   0-3   2   1    0
G Wallace           17   0-1   1-2   2-6   0   1    1
D Songaila           7   1-2   0-0   0-2   0   0    2
A Peeler           DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
R Buford           DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
J Smith            DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 44-87 16-20 13-41  27  11  106
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.506, FT-.800. 3-Point Goals:
2-9, .222 (P Stojakovic 2-8, B Miller 0-1). 
Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:8 (V Divac 4,
B Miller 2, D Christie, T Massenburg). 
Turnovers:10 (V Divac 5, D Christie, B 
Miller, P Stojakovic, M Bibby, T Massenburg).
Steals: 7 (D Christie 2, P Stojakovic 2, B 
Jackson, G Wallace, D Songaila).

-------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND            32  20  26  14   -  92
SACRAMENTO           39  26  18  23   -  106
------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 17,317. T: 2:14. 
Officials: Bennie Adams, Derek Richardson, 
Ron Garretson.

Extended Box

 

CLEVELAND (92) AT SACRAMENTO (106)

CLEVELAND

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
R DAVIS           F    41    7-15     0-0      0   3   3    5   2   1   4   14
C BOOZER          F    39    7-15     0-0      2   9  11    3   3   0   2   14
Z ILGAUSKAS       C    32    2-8      5-6      3   5   8    0   5   0   3    9
D MILES           G    29    2-6      0-0      0   0   0    5   3   0   1    4
L JAMES           G    42   12-20     1-3      2   4   6    9   3   4   2   25
J BREMER               27    7-13     0-0      0   2   2    2   3   1   0   20
K OLLIE                 5    0-1      0-0      0   1   1    0   1   0   1    0
D DIOP                 16    1-3      0-0      2   3   5    0   4   0   1    2
C MIHM                  9    2-5      0-0      1   2   3    0   1   0   0    4
M STEWART             DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
J MCCOY               DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
J KAPONO              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   40-86     6-9     10  29  39   24  25   6  14   92
                            (.465)  (.667)  TEAM REBS:  8 TOTAL TO: 14 (19 PTS)    

SACRAMENTO

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
P STOJAKOVIC      F    40    9-20     2-2      2   5   7    4   1   2   1   22
B MILLER          F    37    6-11     4-5      4   5   9    4   2   0   1   16
V DIVAC           C    39    7-11     4-5      3   4   7    4   3   0   5   18
D CHRISTIE        G    31    6-14     0-0      1   3   4    3   2   2   1   12
M BIBBY           G    36    8-15     3-4      1   1   2    7   0   0   1   19
B JACKSON              20    7-12     2-2      0   1   1    3   1   1   0   16
T MASSENBURG           13    0-1      0-0      0   3   3    2   1   0   1    0
G WALLACE              17    0-1      1-2      2   4   6    0   1   1   0    1
D SONGAILA              7    1-2      0-0      0   2   2    0   0   1   0    2
A PEELER              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
R BUFORD              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
J SMITH               DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   44-87    16-20    13  28  41   27  11   7  10  106
                            (.506)  (.800)  TEAM REBS:  8 TOTAL TO: 10 (14 PTS)    
  
   CLEVELAND          32   20   26   14   -   92
   SACRAMENTO         39   26   18   23   -   106
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: CLEVELAND - C BOOZER 4, D MILES 2, Z ILGAUSKAS, D DIOP,
C MIHM.  SACRAMENTO - V DIVAC 4, B MILLER 2, D CHRISTIE, T MASSENBURG.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: CLEVELAND 6-11 (.545), L JAMES 0-2, J BREMER 6-
9. SACRAMENTO 2-9 (.222), P STOJAKOVIC 2-8, B MILLER 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BENNIE ADAMS, DEREK RICHARDSON, RON GARRETSON.
A - 17,317. T - 2:14.

Game Story

SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- The only thing LeBron James 
didn't do was win.

In a smashing debut, James lived up to the hype with a
spectacular 25 points and nine assists that were not enough to
lift the Cleveland Cavaliers, who suffered a 106-92 loss to the
Sacramento Kings.

"I think I played well.  Not well enough," James said.

The top overall pick in the draft who received $100 million in
endorsements before ever taking the court, James was making the
most scrutinized debut in league history.  As an 18-year-old
prodigy from Akron, Ohio, the fortunes of the woebegone
Cavaliers - and, to a lesser degree, the NBA - are riding on his
success.

James did not disappoint in any area.  There was none of the
hesitancy he comically displayed in his commercial for Nike shot
right here in Arco Arena, which has a loud and rowdy
environment that can rattle even a seasoned player.

"For a guy who's just 18, I'm really surprised, in a positive
way," Kings center Vlade Divac said.  "He's the real deal.  He
has a chance to be on the same level as Kobe (Bryant)."

The 6-8, 240-pound James made 12-of-20 shots, knocking down
tough jumpers and sinking acrobatic layups.  He threw pinpoint
alley-oop passes for dunks and showed poise well beyond his
years.  But most of all, he had the Cavaliers believing they
could win.

When James found J.R. Bremer for a 3-pointer early in the fourth
quarter, Cleveland had an 85-83 lead.  But Bobby Jackson
responded with two baskets before finding rookie Darius Songaila
for a hoop that reclaimed the lead for good for the Kings.

"I think I was able to make a lot of the moves I used in high
school," James said.  "I just had to use more power."

James had six rebounds and four steals as he shattered the
record for points by a rookie coming directly out of high
school, a paltry 10 points by Indiana's Jonathan Bender on
December 10, 1999.

The wunderkind also missed both of his 3-pointers and got to the
line just once, drawing a foul on a 3-pointer late in the third
quarter and missing two of three free throws.

"Coming off a loss, I try to shy away from my individual stats,"
said James, who was as equally unruffled by a throng of 60
media members as he was by his first NBA game.  "I always say
there's something more I could have done to help my team win.
Down the stretch, I could have been more aggressive."

The Kings showed enough aggression on offense down the stretch
to emerge with their 10th straight home-opening win.  But they
came away blown away by James.

"LeBron played pretty good for the first time out," Kings
forward Gerald Wallace said. "Basketball is basketball, no
matter what level you play it at, and he just has a feel for the
game."

"He gets to the basket, he sees the floor, he's creative,"
Sacramento coach Rick Adelman added.  "For a first game, he has
me impressed."

James may have been most impressive in the first quarter.  He
made his first three shots, including a pair of tough jumpers -
an aspect of his game that has been criticized.  He had a steal
and breakaway dunk, then made a pokeaway and set up Ricky Davis
for a circus dunk that cut the deficit to 31-25.

"I like criticism.  It makes me stronger," James said.

"I thought we got his blood flowing by turning it over three
times in a row and giving him those dunks, but he's got a lot of
talent," Adelman said.

The Kings were scoring just as easily at the other end and
opened a 65-52 halftime lead as James did not take a shot in the
second period.

In the third quarter, James got back in the flow with three
quick hoops, including a beautiful driving lefthanded scoop
shot.  He added a lob pass off penetration that set up Darius
Miles for a dunk.

Cleveland closed to 83-78 entering the final period.  After
Jackson's flurry, James made a jumper but took a seat shortly
thereafter.  He made another scoop shot upon  returning to cut
the deficit to 97-92 with 4:17 left, but the Cavs did not score
again.

Without injured All-Star forward Chris Webber, the Kings still
had plenty of offense with six players in double figures.  Peja
Stojakovic scored 22 points, Mike Bibby added 19 and Divac 18.
Jackson scored eight of his 16 in the final period.

Bremer scored 18 of his 20 points on 3-pointers.  Carlos Boozer
had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Davis also scored 14 points
for the Cavs, who have lost five straight meetings with the
Kings.