LeBron James scored an NBA season-high 52 points, but T.J. Ford tied his career high with 24 and Michael Redd added 23 to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-106 on Saturday night.
James was 19-for-29 from the floor, including 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range, and 9-for-10 from the line. He fell four points short of his career high of 56 set in a loss at Toronto on March 20.
“I don’t want to score 50 again for the rest of my career because I am now 0-2 when I score 50,” James joked after the game. “I don’t look at it as me playing well. It’s the fact that we didn’t get a win and that’s all I care for.”
James, who also had seven assists and seven defensive rebounds, had 31 points in the first half on 13-of-17 shooting and 3-of-4 from the 3-point line.
The Bucks couldn’t stop James, but did a great job on his teammates.
Ilgauskas scored 12 of his 20 points in the first half for Cleveland. Larry Hughes, the team’s second-leading scorer, had all of his nine points in the second half.
The Bucks have won five of their last six games.
James, who entered the game averaging 29 points, became the first Cavaliers player to have five consecutive games of 30 or more points. Mike Mitchell scored at least 30 points in four straight games from March 1-9, 1981.
Cleveland is 1-4 during James’ scoring surge and has lost six of its last eight since a season-high eight-game winning streak.
“We will get it together,” James said. “We know we’re a good team.”
The Bucks led 86-82 going into the fourth and Mo Williams’ 3-pointer gave them a 91-84 lead early in the fourth. But Milwaukee couldn’t pull away.
James’ layup tied it at 98 with 5:07 to play, but Bogut took over down the stretch.
Bogut dunked over James, who had 10 points in the fourth, and after Ford made a layup, Bogut added another layup and Milwaukee led 104-99 with 2:40 left.
James banked in a 3-pointer to trim the lead to two points, but Bobby Simmons made a free throw and Cleveland could get no closer.
Donyell Marshall missed a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left. Simmons grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws and Cleveland missed two 3-points attempts in the final 9.3 seconds.
James tripped over Dan Gadzuric late in the third quarter, but finished the quarter. The Cleveland star did not start the fourth and received treatment on his left leg during the break. He returned in the fourth and cut and slashed to the basket without any problem, but only attempted five shots in the fourth.
Click HERE for complete game recape