Tracy McGrady scored 35 points to spoil Keith Smart’s coaching debut with Cleveland, leading the Orlando Magic to a 103-94 victory Tuesday night over the host Cavaliers.
McGrady came in as the league’s leading scorer at 30 points per game, and he had matched that with 6:55 left in the third quarter. At that point, McGrady had outscored the Cavs’ starters 30-29. He had 33 points after three quarters, and Orlando coach Doc Rivers planned to rest his star before the Cavs staged a mild rally.
“They fought,” Smart said of his players. “They didn’t give up.”
Cleveland fell to an NBA-worst 8-35 with its fifth straight loss and first under Smart, who was hired as interim coach Monday when Cleveland fired John Lucas.
“I was ready for this,” Smart said.
Walker injures knee
Less than 24 hours after hitting a winning three-point shot in Philadelphia, Celtics forward Antoine Walker learned Tuesday he would be sidelined up to two weeks with a sprained right-knee ligament. He has played all 41 games this season, averaging 21.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Adelman gets nod
Sacramento’s Rick Adelman will coach the Western Conference in next month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. Adelman assured himself the honor when the Kings beat New Jersey on Tuesday night. The All-Star coaches are determined by which team has the best record in the conference Sunday.
RESULTS, TUESDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Orlando 103 at Cleveland 94
Zydrunas Ilgauskas led Cavs with a career-high 35 points, but top scorer Ricky Davis had 11 points, half his average.
Houston 86 at Dallas 107
Dirk Nowitzki got 12 of his 26 points in decisive 2nd period. Mavs held Yao Ming to 6, ended 3-game losing string.
New Jersey 102 at Sacramento 109
Chris Webber had 36 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Kings, 18-2 at home, had all five starters in double figures.
