James’ 56 Still Not Enough

LeBron James never played better. It still wasn’t enough.

James became the youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game, but his franchise-record 56 weren’t enough to prevent the Toronto Raptors from beating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-98, on Sunday.

“I probably played the best game of my life, but it means nothing when it comes with a loss,” James said.

He easily surpassed his previous career best of 43 points, set Nov. 24 against Detroit. However, he committed a key turnover with 16 seconds left and missed a pair of three-point attempts in the final 14 seconds.

James shot 18 for 36 from the field and 14 for 15 from the line. He also had 10 rebounds and five assists. But Toronto’s bench did in its Cavalier counterparts, outscoring them, 34-1.

“I don’t care about individual stats, especially when you lose. I was disappointed to have as good a game as I had and still come out with a loss,” said James, whose team lost its ninth in a row on the road.

At 20 years 80 days old, James eclipsed Rick Barry as the youngest player to score 50 points. Barry was 21 years 261 days old when he scored 57 for San Francisco against the New York Knicks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

James’ point total also bested the previous Cavalier mark of 50 set by Walt Wesley in 1971.

Jalen Rose had 30 points for the Raptors.

Toronto’s Donyell Marshall said James reminds him of Michael Jordan.

“When I used to play with Golden State, [former Bull] B.J. Armstrong used to tell me about how to beat the Bulls. Let Michael score his points, and stop everybody else,” Marshall said. “I think we did that.”