CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James doesn't miss Carlos Boozer nearly
as much anymore. Cleveland fans, though, are still dealing with
some separation anxiety.
James scored 36 points in 34 dominant minutes against Boozer's
new team, leading the Cavaliers to their third straight win, an
easy 92-73 rout of the cold-shooting Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
James went 11-of-15 from the field, 12-of-16 on free throws,
added nine rebounds and had a perfectly balanced performance. Of
his 36 points, 12 came in the paint, 12 came from the line and the
other 12 came on outside jumpers.
"Oh, God," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. "He's the best
20-year-old I've ever seen. Overall, he was just magnificent. I
don't think I've ever seen him make as many outside shots."
Drew Gooden, acquired by Cleveland in a trade last summer to
replace Boozer, added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Utah, which scored just 62 points in a loss at Detroit on
Sunday, scored nine in the second quarter and went 27-of-81 from
the field. Andrei Kirilenko had 14 points -- 12 in the first quarter
-- and Matt Harpring added just six on 2-of-11 shooting as the Jazz
lost their sixth straight.
The club also had to endure the wrath of Cleveland fans upset
that Boozer, sidelined with a sprained foot, didn't make the trip.
He's now considered a traitor here for signing a $68 million
free-agent deal with the Jazz eight months ago.
"We've moved on," James said. "We're still friends with him.
All that other stuff is between Carlos and them."
The Cavs insisted they had an understanding with Boozer that he
would stay with them. He says leaving was simply a sound business
decision.
Whatever happened, Cleveland fans haven't forgiven him.
"They were football fans tonight," said Harpring, who played
one season with the Cavaliers. "Cleveland doesn't forget. It was
hostile. You could hear it, feel it that people aren't very happy
with him."
Although disappointed that Boozer wasn't present, Cavaliers fans
didn't hide their hatred for the forward. The club didn't miss a
chance to stoke its fans, either, flashing a photo of a smiling
Boozer in his Jazz uniform on the giant scoreboard before the game
and when Utah shot free throws.
Those moments were greeted with loud "boos" not the loving
"Boooze" that Boozer heard during his two seasons as a fan
favorite in Gund Arena.
Some fans brought homemade signs to send their own personal
message to Boozer. Among the most creative: "Carlos Whozer?" "Is
Last Place Worth $68 Million?" and "Et Tu, Boozer?", a reference
to the Ides of March.
Boozer's about-face is not as historical, but not enough time
has passed to heal Cleveland's pain.
"Hopefully he heard the message through the TV," Cavs guard
Jeff McInnis said.
Cavaliers fans are taking solace in seeing Boozer struggle. The
Jazz are just 20-43, while Cleveland is 34-27 and on its way to
qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1998.
James didn't score his first points until dropping two free
throws with 6:37 left in the first quarter. But he was just warming
up because with 8:47 left in the second quarter, he had 22.
The Jazz, meanwhile, were having trouble getting off a good shot
against the Cavaliers' suffocating defense. James scored 15 points
and Cleveland outscored Utah 24-9 in the second quarter to open a
50-32 halftime lead.
"LeBron showed why he's one of the best players in the NBA,"
Kirilenko said. "We stopped executing and just got caught watching
LeBron."
The Cavaliers pushed their lead to 21 in the opening minutes of
the third and went up 70-45 when James caught a lob pass from Jeff
McInnis for a vicious, one-handed dunk with 1:21 left in the
period.
James was pulled with more than 10 minutes left, getting a
chance to rest for Thursday's game in Milwaukee.
"I'm glad he (Silas) didn't play LeBron in the last quarter,"
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "They might have beaten us by 80."
Game notes
James has scored more than 30 points 16 times this season.
... Not missing a marketing opportunity, the Cavaliers have already
adopted Usher's "Double C" gesture as part of their strategy to
increase fan interest. During Sunday's game, Usher crossed his arms
in an X" and formed "Cs" with his hands, a move quickly copied
by many in the arena. ... Sloan expects Boozer to miss a few more
weeks. ... Sloan is one win from tying Red Auerbach (938) for sixth
place on the career wins list. ... Silas scored two tickets to see
Creighton, his alma mater, play in Thursday's NCAA first-round at
Cleveland State. ... The Cavs swept the season series from Utah for
the first time since 1981-82.