LeBron James and Damon Jones took turns carrying Cleveland and scored 29 points apiece, leading the Cavaliers over the Knicks 102–96 last night for their third straight victory.

Jones kept Cleveland in the game in the first half with 24 points, and made seven 3-pointers in what was easily his best game of the season. James scored 19 in the second half, and also set up baskets by Donyell Marshall and Anderson Varejao in the fourth quarter, both after New York had closed within two points.

Nate Robinson scored 19 points and nearly led the Knicks back from a 14-point deficit, but New York fell to 0–3 at Madison Square Garden this season. Jamal Crawford had 18 and Channing Frye added 17, ending his horrendous start to the season.

The Knicks led for most of the first half, but Cleveland stayed close behind Jones, who was 7-of-8 in 17 minutes through two quarters. His three free throws gave Cleveland its first lead at 39–38 with 3:18 remaining, and he followed with a 3-pointer fourpoint advantage. He was 6-of-7 behind the arc at halftime, which Cavs led 51–47 at halftime.

James finally heated up midway through the third, making a jumper and following with a steal and bucket about 20 seconds later for a 67–58 lead with 2:36 left in the quarter. He added a 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 12 with 2:02 remaining, and the Cavs were up 71–63 heading to the fourth.

Jones hit another 3 to make it 81–67 with under 10 minutes remaining before the Knicks stormed back. New York hit nine of first 10 shots in the period, getting within 84–82 on Crawford’s floater with 6:15 to play.

Marshall then dunked, and when the Knicks got within two again, James found Varejao inside to make it 90–86. New York eventually got within one when Crawford followed his long 3-pointer with a dunk in transition, but Larry Hughes knocked down a jumper with 1:25 left, and after Stephon Marbury missed a 3, James pushed the lead to six with three free throws.

Hughes finished with 14 points for the Cavs, who snapped a three-game losing streak at Madison Square Garden.

A first-team All-Rookie selection last season, Frye had been such a disappointment that his eighth point, with 3:20 left first quarter, was already a season high. He entered averaging only 3.4 points on 22 percent shooting.

Steve Francis returned for the Knicks after missing three games with a sprained left ankle.

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SUPERSONICS 119, NETS 113 Luke Ridnour scored a career-high 32 points and Seattle opened a 28-point, firsthalf lead and then held off a late Nets rally in posting a 119–113 victory last night, giving the road-weary SuperSonics their third straight win.

Rashard Lewis added 27 points, and Ray Allen and Chris Wilcox had 22 apiece for the SuperSonics, who saw the Nets get within five points in the final 1:39 before Ridnour sealed the game with four free throws.

Vince Carter had a season-high 38 points, Nenad Krstic added 21, and Jason Kidd had 20 points, 12 assists and six rebounds.

The Nets, who came into the fourth quarter behind 96–80, whittled the lead to eight points in the opening three-plus minutes and they had it down to 113–108 when Kidd hit two free throws with 1:39 to play.

With the shot clock winding down, Ridnour got Nets rookie Marcus Williams off his feet and took a nudge, drawing a foul. He hit both shots with 1:15 to go.

A basket by Carter got New Jersey within 115–110 with 38 seconds to go, but Ridnour made two more free throws and the Nets never threatened again.

Ridnour (11-of-18), Lewis (10-of-17), and Wilcox (8-of-13) all had great shooting nights for Seattle, which held a 46–34 rebounding edge, including 20–10 on the offensive boards.

Seattle seemingly took control with a 17–2 first quarter spurt that gave them a 29–14 lead. The run featured seven points by Allen and five apiece by Ridnour and Lewis.

The SuperSonics hit five of their first seven shots in the run and capped it with an Allen 3-pointer after they got two straight offensive rebounds.

The SuperSonics pushed the advantage to 46–23 early in the second quarter when Lewis hit a 3-pointer to cap an 11–4 spurt.

The Nets started their comeback late in the first half with a 12–2 run that closed the gap to 60–42 at the half. The margin was still 16 points at the end of the third quarter before New Jersey made its last run.