Shaq, LeBron Not Quite a Heavenly Match

Cavs star also gives himself a present: a 48-point game

(NEWSER) - It must be nice to be LeBron James. The Cavaliers star turned a vital 25 years old and showed off his youthful vigor by scoring 48 points to beat the Atlanta Hawks yesterday. Then, as is the case with so many 25-year-olds, his friend and teammate Shaquille O’Neal gave him a Rolls Royce Phantom that retails at about $400,000, reports the Cleveland Leader . More»

NBA great was touched by news coverage of terrible crime

(NEWSER) - Touched by the girl's story, Shaquille O’Neal paid for the funeral of Shaniya Davis. More than 2,000 people gathered Sunday to mourn the slain North Carolina 5-year-old, allegedly prostituted by her mother and raped and asphyxiated by another man. Shaq got in touch with the girl’s father after her body was identified. The funeral director who handled the arrangements declined to say how much the services cost but estimated that a child’s funeral “averages around $4,500,” reports the Fayetteville Observer . More»

(NEWSER) - LeBron James is about to get some big help—literally. The Suns and Cavaliers have agreed in principle to a deal to send Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland in exchange for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, and the 46th pick in today's draft, multiple team execs tell the Plain Dealer. The trade will save Phoenix around $9 million, or more if Wallace accepts a retirement buyout. More»

Miami drops 14th straight game to Cavaliers, 97-90

(NEWSER) - Dwyane Wade scored 42 points against the Cavaliers—32 in the second half—but even that wasn't enough to pull off something that hasn't happened in 14 games: a Miami win. LeBron James had 28 points and help from four teammates scoring in the double digits to put together a 97-90 victory, the Miami Herald reports. More»

Miami Heat crush Cleveland Cavaliers

(NEWSER) - Turns out it takes more than boos to win a basketball game. Because Cleveland Cavalier fans definitely delivered a flawless booing performance last night—raining down jeers like, “Akron hates you!” and “Scot-tie Pip-pen!”—and it wasn’t enough. LeBron James played spectacularly, racking up a season-high 38 points to lead the hated Heat to an easy 118-90 victory, the New York Times reports. More»