James Scores 40 in Cavaliers’ Win

LeBron James was tired of losing on the road, so the 19-year-old superstar gave the Cleveland Cavaliers exactly what they needed -- everything.

“Whatever we needed, he provided tonight,” Coach Paul Silas said. “He fuels us. As LeBron goes, so we go. He just wouldn’t let us lose.”

James had 40 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to help the Cavaliers defeat the Atlanta Hawks, 111-102, Tuesday night for their third victory in four games.

Jeff McInnis and Zydrunas Ilgauskas each scored 20 points for Cleveland, which won its fifth in a row against the struggling Hawks. The Cavaliers improved to 6-9 on the road.

“There’s not too many teams that play well on the road anyway,” James said. “We’ve just got to come in with intensity like this every time we’re on the road. It’s simple as that.”

James, who began the game averaging 24.6 points a game, finished three points shy of his career high.

“We all play behind LeBron,” McInnis said. “Like in the fourth quarter, LeBron told me to get going. I got on the pick-and-roll and got some baskets. He got ‘Tractor’ Traylor into the game.”

James’ most spectacular basket came on a fastbreak dunk in the second quarter. He cradled the ball in his right arm before using his right hand to jam it through the rim and cut the Hawks’ lead to 41-38.

James, who turns 20 on Thursday, is the youngest player to reach 500 career assists and rebounds.