Raptors top Cavs, James
Published 4:20 am Thursday, October 29, 2009
TORONTO — Seven years in the NBA has taught LeBron James the importance of patience. It is being tested after Cleveland started its new season with two straight losses.
Andrea Bargnani scored 28 points, Chris Bosh had 21 points and 16 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors overcame James’ 25th career triple-double to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91 on Wednesday night.
‘‘Early in my career, I’d get very upset when you lose two or three games, you’d just feel like you can’t turn it around,’’ James said. ‘‘But I’m at a point in my career now where I know that you can lose two but, at the same time, you don’t look too far into it. You learn from the mistakes and you just try to get better.’’
James had 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, but Cleveland opened its season with consecutive losses for the first time since an 0-3 start in 2004-05. James scored 38 points in Tuesday’s 95-89 home loss to Boston.
‘‘I’m still positive,’’ James said. ‘‘If it was 25 or 35 games into the season and we were going through a three- or four-game losing streak, then I’d be a little bit disappointed, but I’m not at this point.’’
Mo Williams scored 16 points and Shaquille O’Neal had 12 for Cleveland, which had won five straight over Toronto and nine of 10.
‘‘Coach is still learning us, we’re still learning the system, we’re still learning each other,’’ O’Neal said. ‘‘It’s going to be a work in progress.’’