Determined James leads Cavs to victory over Bucks
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-07 14:52

NEW YORK (Reuters) - LeBron James sank the go-ahead basket with 18 seconds remaining to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to an 89-86 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers scores in front of Joe Smith (8) of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter of their NBA game at in Cleveland, Ohio, February 6, 2006. James scored 22 points to lead the Cavaliers to a 89-86 victory over the Bucks. [Reuters]

"We won. That's all that matters to me," James told reporters after the game.

James has seven triple doubles in his career and three already this season, but it was his determination to score the go-ahead basket late in the game that was the deciding factor on Monday.

Trailing 86-85 with 30.4 seconds to play, the Cavaliers gave the ball to James and he powered past Bobby Simmons for the lay-up to put the Cavs ahead to stay.

Milwaukee missed on its next chance and Donyell Marshall added another dunk with 9.7 seconds left to complete the scoring.

"They just left me alone," Marshall told reporters about his basket, which turned out to be the final one of the game.

Drew Gooden and Sasha Pavlovic both added 15 points for the Cavaliers, who led 44-37 at the half.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which shot 49 percent while holding the Bucks to 39 percent from the field.

Simmons led the Bucks with 21 points and also had eight rebounds, while Michael Redd added 18 points.

Jamaal Magloire had 10 points and hauled down 11 rebounds for Milwuakee, while T.J. Ford just missed a triple double with 12 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

In East Rutherford, Richard Jefferson scored 26 points and the New Jersey Nets won their 11th straight game at home, downing the New Orleans Hornets 99-91.