NBA
Magic silences James & Co.
Howard scores 24; Orlando is up, 2-1
ORLANDO, Fla. — LeBron James had no shot.
Dwight Howard scored 24 points — 14 on free throws — and Rafer Alston added 18 as the Orlando Magic, sick of seeing replays of James’ dramatic Game Two buzzer-beater, downed the Cleveland Cavaliers, 99-89, on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in an Eastern Conference finals getting nastier by the minute.
James scored 41 on just 11-of-26 shooting and missed five free throws in the fourth quarter. But once again, Cleveland’s superstar didn’t get enough help from his teammates.
Mo Williams, who needed four stitches to close two gashes around his left eye after being elbowed in the first half, Delonte West and Zydrunas Ilgauskas shot a combined 13 of 37.
Game Four is Tuesday night.
Earlier, the Cleveland said they have signed an agreement with an investment group from China to become minority owners of the NBA franchise and its arena, a partnership that could impact James’ future with the team.
The Asian conglomerate, which includes JianHua Huang, a Chinese businessman who has brokered sponsorship deals with the New York Yankees and other sports franchises in the U. S., could acquire up to 15 percent of Cavaliers Operating Company, the entity that owns the team and operates Quicken Loans Arena.
The deal, completed by the sides in recent days, must be approved by the league’s board of governors.
Team President Len Komoroski said Sunday the group approached Cavs principal owner Dan Gilbert about the partnership and called the business venture “an exciting new opportunity.”
Gilbert’s role in overseeing the organization and 20,000-seat arena will not be affected by the new partners.
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