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Tickets at Ticket Master
The Miami Heat activated forward Samaki Walker from the injured list on Saturday, in time for the team's game against Denver.
Walker has not played since Jan. 9 because of bone spurs in his right ankle. He averaged 3.9 points and 4.1 rebounds before being sidelined.
To make room for Walker, the Heat placed reserve guard Bimbo Coles (bruised foot) on the injured list. Coles is averaging 1.3 points in 22 games this season.
Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks want to keep LeBron James from having
a memorable Madison Square Garden debut.
The Knicks look to rebound from an embarrassing home loss as they host ``King
James'' and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
New York has played Cleveland twice already, losing both games at Gund Arena. James averaged 15.5 points -- five below his average -- in those games.
The heralded 6-foot-8 swingman has done everything the Cavs expected of him when they made him the top overall pick in last year's draft.
James, who is averaging 20.6 points and 5.8 assists, has helped Cleveland work its way within seven games of .500, and just 2 1/2 games behind Miami for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
James scored 32 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas converted a key putback in the
final minute as the Cavaliers came away with an impressive 89-87 win over the
defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
The Cavaliers rallied from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter and survived a frantic final minute to snap San Antonio's six-game winning streak.
``It felt like a playoff game down the stretch,'' said Cavs guard Jeff McInnis, who hit a crucial 3-pointer and two jumpers to fuel Cleveland's rally. ``This was a big win.''
James and the Cavs will likely be privy to another playoff-like atmosphere at what is expected to be a sold-out Garden on Sunday.
The Utah Jazz put a damper on Marbury's 27th birthday Friday, crushing the new-look Knicks 92-78 at the Garden.
``I never would have wished for this, but it happened -- and it happened on my birthday,'' said Marbury, who scored 21 points.
Newly acquired Tim Thomas added 17 points, but 11 came in the fourth quarter with the game well out of reach. The loss was the third in four games since the Knicks had a season-high five-game winning streak snapped by Dallas on Feb. 10.
STANDINGS (through Feb. 20): Cavaliers - 6th place, 19 GB, Central Division. Knicks - 2nd place, 8 1/2 GB, Atlantic Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Cavaliers - F Ira Newble, F Carlos Boozer, C Ilgauskas, G McInnis, G James. Knicks - F Kurt Thomas, F Tim Thomas, C Dikembe Mutombo, G Shandon Anderson, G Marbury.
TEAM LEADERS: Cavaliers - James, 20.6 ppg and 5.8 apg; Boozer, 11.0 rpg. Knicks - Marbury, 20.8 ppg and 8.7 apg; Kurt Thomas, 8.7 rpg.
SEASON SERIES: Cavaliers, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 6; Cavaliers, 107-96. At Cleveland, Ilgauskas scored 24 points and James handed out 10 assists to lead the Cavs. Marbury had eight points and eight assists in his Knicks debut.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Cavaliers - 6-21 on the road; Knicks - 16-14 at home.
INJURIES: Cavaliers - C Tony Battie (knee); C Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (ankle). Knicks - G Allan Houston (knee); C Cezary Trybanski (knee).