NBA roundup: Cavs drop 74 in 1st half to drub Knicks

CLEVELAND — LeBron James had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers used a 74-point first half to hammer the New York Knicks 124-93 on Monday night in their first game since learning Shaquille O'Neal will miss the rest of the regular season.

The Cavaliers didn't miss the 15-time All-Star, who had surgery on his injured right thumb Monday morning and is expected to miss two months. The team is hopeful he will return for at least part of the playoffs.

The 31-point margin of victory is the largest this season for Cleveland, which equaled a season high with its 74-point first half — set three weeks ago against the Knicks. The Cavaliers outrebounded New York 60-31 and led by as much as 49. They have won eight straight in the series.

Reserve Bill Walker scored 21 points for New York.

MAGIC 126, 76ERS 105: At Philadelphia, Jameer Nelson had 22 points and 10 assists, and the Orlando Magic beat the Philadelphia 76ers. All five starters scored at least 14 points for the Magic. They reached the 100-point mark late in the third quarter and kept the pressure on in the fourth.

Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis each scored 19 points. Dwight Howard had 14. Orlando hit five 3-pointers in the third and shot 69 percent to turn a seven-point lead at halftime into a total rout.

The Sixers played without Elton Brand (right Achilles' tendinitis) and Allen Iverson (personal).

MAVERICKS 89, BOBCATS 84: At Charlotte, N.C., Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points, Jason Terry had several key buckets down the stretch, and the surging Dallas Mavericks beat Charlotte to spoil the Bobcats' first game since Michael Jordan agreed to buy the team. Jordan's presence courtside and a difficult travel schedule couldn't stop the NBA's hottest team from their eighth straight win. Caron Butler added 22 points and Terry scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Dallas, which rallied from a 12-point third-quarter deficit.

TRAIL BLAZERS 103, GRIZZLIES 93: At Memphis, Tenn., Brandon Roy scored 25 points and Nicolas Batum added 21 as Portland erased a 14-point first-half deficit with a strong third quarter and defeated the Memphis Grizzlies. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 13, and Andre Miller scored 12 points and handed out 11 assists as the Trail Blazers ended their five-game road trip with four victories. They also solidified their hold on the Western Conference's eighth playoff spot.