CLEVELAND (AP) Paul Silas would follow a 20-rebound game by trying to drink as many beers.

The Cavaliers coach remembers nights he would chug down a few cold ones before hoarding unopened beers left for his teammates who didn't drink alcohol.

``I would have five or six before I left the locker room,'' Silas said Tuesday. ``I could really drink a lot, and I liked it.''

About 15 years ago, he quit.

``I had to,'' he said. ``They say you can't quit on your own, but I did.''

Now a recovering alcoholic, Silas can relate from personal experience to the current plight of Vin Baker, the four-time All-Star released last week by the Boston Celtics for violating the terms of his alcohol treatment program.

One of the league's greatest all-time rebounders, the 60-year-old Silas was able to pull his life together. He now prays Baker can one day do the same and hopes others can be sympathetic to his struggle.

``I just hope he can get the desired help he needs and goes through sobriety,'' Silas said. ``Because it (alcoholism) is devastating. I hope people understand what it is _ that it's a disease. It's something I can sympathize with him with because I've been there. He has a disease. And I have it, too.''

Silas' candid revelation _ he hasn't spoken to Cleveland's players about his alcohol problems _ that he was a heavy drinker was prompted by a question before Monday's game on whether the Cavs were interested in signing Baker.

On Tuesday, Silas went into greater detail about his ``demons.''

Growing up in Oakland, Calif., Silas was around alcohol at an early age.

His late father would come home from work drunk and pass out in a chair. Although aware of his father's problem and the potential that he could follow a destructive path, Silas loved the taste of that first beer as a 16-year-old and continued to drink during four years at Creighton.

An NBA lifestyle of late nights, first-class plane trips and luxury hotels contributed to his drinking in the 1960s and 70s, Silas said. So did an American culture, which didn't stigmatize drinking and smoking as it does today.

``When I was with the St. Louis Hawks, we would come in at halftime and there would be a cigarette on each player's chair,'' Silas said. ``Guys would light up. I just smell the stuff now and it makes me sick to my stomach.''

Silas's 16-year playing career ended in 1980 when he retired after three seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics. However, his drinking only increased.

He took a job with a consulting firm in New York with his former agent, and Silas said many evenings included post-work cocktails _ a lot of them.

It was following one such night that Silas decided he had had his fill of alcohol.

Driving aimlessly in a drunken stupor, he made a wrong turn and got lost as he tried to get home. Silas decided immediately it was time to straighten out his life.

``I started praying,'' Silas said, ``and I said, 'Lord, if you let me find my way, I won't take another drop.' And there was like an illumination and I saw the (street) sign for where I was. I went home and told me wife, 'That's it.' And I just quit.''

Although he was twice an All-Star and won three NBA titles, Silas is sure his drinking affected him as a player, but he'll never know just how much.

``I'm sure it did, but somehow I made it through,'' he said. ``Having a couple of beers after the game, if you can handle it, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. But if you can't, you have to stay away from it _ totally.''

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James has snapped up another big endorsement deal.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' rookie star signed a four-year, $5 million contract with Bubblicious bubble gum, popping his sponsorship deals to nearly $135 million.

Like his idol, Michael Jordan, the 19-year-old James chews gum during games and occasionally blows a bubble or two _ making him a natural fit for London-based Cadbury Schweppes PLC.

``He appeals to a large audience and he loves the brand,'' marketing director Sydney Taylor said Monday. ``He's been chewing our gum for quite a while.''

James will appear in television and print advertisements for the gum, the first time a pro athlete has endorsed the product, Taylor said. Cadbury is exploring having James promote other products, she said.

James' agent, Aaron Goodwin, said Bubblicious will have a LeBron James-inspired flavor.

Goodwin had been in negotiations for three months on the deal and said he's talking with four or five companies, including McDonald's and Kraft, about future projects.

James has been racking up big-money endorsement contracts with sponsors since May, when he signed a seven-year, $90 million deal with Nike _ the richest initial shoe contract ever offered an athlete.

He has deals with Coca Cola/Sprite ($16 million), Juice Batteries ($8 million) and Upper Deck ($5 million). He also signed a guaranteed three-year, $13 million deal with the Cavaliers in July.

CLEVELAND (AP) The Cleveland Cavaliers were fined $5,000 by the NBA on Monday for a skit in which their mascot poked fun at Celtics guard Ricky Davis.

During a timeout in the second quarter of a Feb. 9 game against Boston, Moondog, Cleveland's floppy-eared mascot, mopped the floor with a No. 31 Cavs jersey _ Davis' number while he was with Cleveland.

The Cavs traded Davis to the Celtics in December.

``We accept responsibility and will pay the fine and move on,'' team spokesman Tad Carper said.

Earlier this season, the Utah Jazz were fined $15,000 by the league for a skit that ridiculed Los Angeles forward Karl Malone and teammate Kobe Bryant.

CLEVELAND (AP) The Cavaliers activated forward Tony Battie on Wednesday after he missed six games with a bruised knee.

To make room for Battie, the Cavs placed guard J.R. Bremer on the injured list with tendinitis in his right knee.

Battie has given the Cavaliers an inside defensive presence since coming over in a Dec. 17 trade with Boston. The 6-foot-11, six-year veteran is averaging 5.6 points and 5.6 rebounds with Cleveland.

He is returning just in time for the Cavs, who will be without backup center DeSagana Diop for at least two games _ and maybe more. The 7-foot Diop sprained his right ankle during practice Monday.

Bremer is averaging just 3.5 points in 31 games this season. The Cavs were counting on him to be an outside shooting threat, but after making 6-of-9 3-pointers in the season opener, Bremer has gone just 13-of-55 in his last 30 games.

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James swears that three days of hanging out with Shaq, 'Melo and movie stars in Los Angeles last weekend didn't wear him out.

The Cavaliers' rookie star returned from the NBA's All-Star break surprisingly refreshed.

Hey, he's 19. Who needs sleep, anyway?

``I got some (sleep) on the plane on the way back home,'' James said with a laugh. ``That was about it. But I'm very recharged. I'm back to where I need to be.''

And with roughly two months left in the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers (20-33) are where no one thought they'd be: in the NBA playoff chase.

The Cavs will begin the season's unofficial second half just 2{ games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and coach Paul Silas thinks his club has a realistic chance at making the postseason.

``We have some tough games,'' Silas said. ``But we're still there. We've still got a shot.''

Cleveland's next six games could go a long way in determining the Cavs' playoff fate.

The Cavaliers will host Dallas on Wednesday night followed by games against San Antonio, New York, New Orleans, Houston and Orlando. Only the improving Knicks and Magic have losing records.

Silas knows his young club has its hands full.

``It's going to be awful tough,'' said Silas, whose teams have historically played better after the break. ``But it's right there. We just have to win some games.''

Thanks to James' phenomenal start, Carlos Boozer's emergence and two trades, the Cavs are nothing like the team that opened the season 6-18, lost 13 straight road games and appeared to be headed for a fifth straight 50-plus loss season.

Since acquiring Eric Williams, Tony Battie and Kedrick Brown from Boston in a Dec. 17 trade, the Cavs have gone 14-15, won six road games _ twice their total from last season _ and renewed hope in a city aching for a winner.

``It's gratifying to know that from 6-18 we're still there,'' James said. ``As bad as we started, to be in the playoff hunt is really remarkable.''

Remarkable, too, has been James' first season.

The No. 1 overall draft pick has soared above the stratospheric expectations placed upon him. He's averaging 20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.

James' stats have trailed off a bit recently, probably because of fatigue. He didn't get as much rest in L.A. as he _ or Silas _ would have liked.

``He was tired,'' Silas said following Tuesday's practice. ``He didn't get much rest out at the All-Star game. The rest of them looked fine, apparently they got their rest. He didn't.''

James, who spent time in Los Angeles with fellow rookie Carmelo Anthony and Shaquille O'Neal, and participated in preliminary events to the All-Star game, says he's ready to lead Cleveland's playoff push.

``We've got a job to do now,'' he said. ``We got 29 games left and I'm bringing all my energy. Every little piece of energy I got, I've got to bring to these last 29 games.''

The Cavs did suffer a minor setback Tuesday. Silas said backup center DeSagana Diop will miss at least two games with a sprained right ankle.

Diop got hurt during practice on Monday night.

However, Battie will be activated before Wednesday's game after missing six games with a bruised right knee.

LOS ANGELES (AP) LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were more than ready for prime time _ and their new buddy show was a smash hit.

James scored 33 points and hooked up with Anthony for four breathtaking alley-oop dunks that were the best moments in the sophomores' highlight-filled 142-118 victory in the Rookie Challenge on Friday night.

Though neither player was selected for Sunday's All-Star game, James and Anthony are arguably the NBA's most anticipated rookie duo since Magic Johnson and Larry Bird _ and in a game mercifully free of defense, they put on a show worthy of the hype.

In their only competition of the weekend, the 19-year-old prodigies were the main attractions on a rookie team going against a squad of second-year pros led by Yao Ming and MVP Amare Stoudemire, who had 36 points and 11 rebounds.

James' pairing with Anthony was so enticing that the NBA moved the game from its usual spot in All-Star Saturday festivities, giving it a prime-time slot Friday night before a sellout crowd at Staples Center. While James provided most of the gasp-inducing highlights, Anthony scored 17 points.

Stoudemire, last season's Rookie of the Year, made an incredible number of uncontested dunks. Carlos Boozer and Ronald Murray added 25 points apiece for the second-year pros, who made nearly 71 percent of their shots in the first half to turn it into a blowout.

But nobody cared: James, wearing gold-colored shoes that wouldn't be legal during the regular season, gave a performance that steadily got better after losing the opening tip to Yao, who barely jumped to swat the ball away from the 6-foot-8 James.

Rookies coach Doug Collins used James and Anthony in tandem during the first half, substituting them together and taking advantage of their teamwork. They needed less than four minutes to hook up on a spectacular play.

Anthony got loose on a fast break and served up an underhand alley-oop to James, who slammed it home to delirious cheers. They teamed up again 2{ minutes later, with Anthony throwing a longer pass for another emphatic slam by James.

Their third connection came with less than five minutes to play when Anthony dribbled under the hoop and tossed it up to James, who dunked from the other direction. They added one more in the final minute, when both teams abandoned any pretense of defense for an impromptu dunk contest.

James, who declined an invitation to participate in the real dunk contest, threw down a two-handed behind-the-head slam moments later _ and Anthony capped the game with a similar jam. After Stoudemire accepted his trophy, James tossed his new shoes into the crowd.

The dunk contest and the long-distance shootout won't be held until Saturday night, but dunks and 3-pointers were just about all the young players attempted during long stretches.

The sophomores led 72-59 at halftime, though Yao got jeered by his teammates after completely missing the basket support on a one-handed shot from halfcourt at the buzzer.

James scored 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting in the first half. Moments after halftime, James tossed a pass off the backboard to himself and rattled home a jam.

Though the game was sold out on the opening night of All-Star festivities, about half the lower bowl was empty as fans fought rush-hour traffic to make it to the game. The crowd got thinner up the building's four elevated levels, though it filled out nicely as the night progressed.

Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles native Baron Davis and rapper Jay-Z were among the celebrities who made it to the arena in time to see the showcase.

The New Jersey Nets sure look smart for promoting Lawrence Frank.

Maybe NBA fans knew something, too, when they voted for Yao Ming over Shaquille O'Neal.

Frank matched a league record by improving to 9-0 since taking over the Nets, who won their 10th straight game Wednesday night with a 105-85 victory in Cleveland.

``Naismith, Wooden, all of them would be proud of him,'' All-Star guard Jason Kidd said. ``He doesn't like the attention, but the team is happy for him.''

Yao had 29 points and 11 rebounds, outplaying O'Neal to lead the Rockets to a 102-87 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.

Yao also edged Shaq in fan balloting and will start at center for the Western Conference in the All-Star game Sunday.

``He made the shots, but he got the whistle, too,'' O'Neal said. ``He's a big guy and has a soft touch. I don't think he'll ever be able to play me one-on-one, ever, ever, ever. We let this one slip away.''

In other games, it was: Sacramento 96, Detroit 94; Miami 111, Orlando 98; Philadelphia 113, Washington 88; Memphis 110, the Los Angeles Clippers 102; New Orleans 106, New York 98; Minnesota 77, Utah 66; and Golden State 110, Phoenix 99.

Yao flashed an array of fluid moves and helped the Rockets pull away in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of Houston's last 15 points in the final 6:12.

``We have to make adjustments throughout the game if you're playing against the best player in the league, and he did that,'' Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. ``He went with his jump hook and he drove and he spun.''

O'Neal, who finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, fouled out with 3:20 to play. Kobe Bryant came off the injured list and scored 14 points for the Lakers.

``I was very surprised how I was able to do,'' Yao said. ``We kept moving the ball and moving our people on defense and Shaq couldn't catch up to it.''

Frank, 33, is the youngest coach in pro sports _ and he doesn't look much older than some ballboys. The former assistant was named interim coach when Byron Scott was fired on Jan. 26.

With the win, Frank tied an NBA mark for the best start as a coach shared by Kurt Rambis (Los Angeles Lakers, 1998-99) and Buddy Jeannette (Baltimore Bullets, 1947-48).

Not bad for a kid who couldn't even make his high school basketball team in Teaneck, N.J.

``He's a leader,'' said Kerry Kittles, who scored all 27 of his points in the second half. ``Give him credit, he's pushing the right buttons. He comes up with a good game plan and we all feel comfortable going in.''

The Nets became the second team in league history to win 10 straight games by more than 10 points, tying a mark set by the 1946-47 Washington Capitals coached by Red Auerbach.

New Jersey also tied a team mark with its fifth straight road win, and the Nets' 10-game winning streak is their second-longest ever. New Jersey won 11 in a row in 1982-83.

Underscoring their turnaround under Frank, the Nets became just the second team to follow a five-game losing streak by winning 10 in a row. The Denver Nuggets did that in 1977-78.

``The players deserve all the credit,'' Frank said.

Cavaliers rookie LeBron James scored nine points _ his lowest output in 29 games _ and said he won't participate in the slam dunk contest this weekend.

Kings 96, Pistons 94

At Auburn Hills, Mich., Peja Stojakovic's 22-foot jumper with 0.4 seconds left sent Detroit into the All-Star break with a season-high five-game losing streak.

Mike Bibby scored 26 points and Stojakovic had 25 for the Western Conference-leading Kings, who have won seven of eight and five straight on the road. Brad Miller added 18 points and 15 rebounds.

76ers 113, Wizards 88

At Philadelphia, Allen Iverson scored 25 points and new coach Chris Ford was a winner in his 76ers debut.

Heat 111, Magic 98

At Orlando, Fla., Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, Rafer Alston added a season-high 23 and Miami snapped a five-game losing streak. Orlando lost its seventh straight.

Grizzlies 110, Clippers 102

At Memphis, Tenn., Pau Gasol had 22 points and eight rebounds to help the Grizzlies hold off short-handed Los Angeles.

Elton Brand had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who lost their fourth straight. They were missing leading scorer Corey Maggette and third-leading scorer Quentin Richardson due to injuries.

Hornets 106, Knicks 98

At New Orleans, Baron Davis shook off a sore ankle and had 29 points and a career-high six steals for the Hornets, who had lost five of six. Stephon Marbury led New York with 29 points and 10 assists.

Timberwolves 77, Jazz 66

At Salt Lake City, Kevin Garnett had 17 points and 12 rebounds for his 14th straight double-double. Sam Cassell finished with 24 points and seven assists.

Andrei Kirilenko had 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks to lead the Jazz.

Warriors 110, Suns 99

At Oakland, Calif., Brian Cardinal scored a career-best 32 points, and Speedy Claxton had 19 points and a career-high 13 assists for Golden State.

Amare Stoudemire had a season-high 33 points and nine rebounds for the Suns, who fell behind by 24 early in their fifth straight loss.

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James isn't going to stuff too much into his first All-Star weekend after all.

James ended speculation that he might enter Saturday's slam dunk contest in Los Angeles, saying Wednesday night he would definitely skip the event.

``I'm out! I'm out! I'm out!'' he said following a 20-point loss to the New Jersey Nets. ``No more questions about the slam dunk.''

Earlier this week, James said he was still mulling over an invitation from the NBA to participate in the dunk contest. He had turned down the league a few weeks ago but on Monday said he was reconsidering.

Two-time defending champion Jason Richardson of Golden State will try to become the first three-time winner as he faces Boston's Ricky Davis, Denver's Chris Andersen and Indiana's Fred Jones.

Although he now says he won't dunk, James will still have a busy stay in Los Angeles.

He is scheduled to play in Friday's Rookie Challenge and there is still an outside chance he could be added as an Eastern Conference reserve for Sunday's game if anyone had to pull out with an injury.

James also has league media obligations to fulfill and some with Nike, who signed him to a six-year, $90 million endorsement deal in May.

Before departing on a private jet for L.A., James was told by Cavs coach Paul Silas to get as much rest as possible this weekend.

``I'm going to get some,'' said James, who scored just 9 points in his worst game since early December against the Nets.

Still, James said he has not hit the rookie wall.

``I'm straight,'' he said. ``I could play again. Any time I go on the court I gain some energy. When we play again, I'll be ready.''

Silas admits he has been playing his star rookie too much and hopes to cut James' minutes in the second half of the season.

``It's a concern,'' Silas said. ``Forty minutes for anybody is a lot of minutes. He has the body, size, athleticism and mental capability to do that. He'll need a rest if we're going to make any kind of a (playoff) push.''

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James plans to watch the NBA's slam dunk contest _ for now.

James was not among the four players named Tuesday by the league to take part in Saturday night's contest during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, but the Cavaliers' teenage rookie star has been hinting at a possible surprise appearance.

James recently turned down an invitation from the league to be in one of the weekend's glamor events because of a sprained right ankle that sidelined him for three games.

However, James said he may reconsider.

``I don't know,'' he said. ``I'll think about it. There are a lot of people who want me to do it.''

On Tuesday, the league announced that Golden State's Jason Richardson will go for his third straight dunking crown against Boston's Ricky Davis, Denver's Chris Andersen and Indiana's Fred Jones.

No player has won three slam-dunk contests since the competition began in 1984.

While James remains noncommittal, there are signs that he might be ready to show his stuff.

Near the end of warmups before Monday night's game against Boston, James twice practiced a twisting, two-handed dunk that teammate Kedrick Brown couldn't match.

Also, this year's event is sponsored by Sprite, which signed James to a six-year, multimillion-dollar marketing and endorsement deal in August.

James said the decision whether to dunk or not will be his.

``I don't feel pressure,'' he said. ``There are a lot of people who want me to be in it, but it's no pressure like it's a life or death situation.''

James is scheduled to play in Friday's Rookie Challenge and the dunk contest would be yet another appointment on a busy itinerary for the No. 1 draft pick, who Monday night became the youngest player in league history to score 1,000 points.

In addition to fulfilling league obligations, James has commitments with Nike, which signed him to a six-year, $90 million deal last May.

``He's got a lot on his plate,'' said his agent, Aaron Goodwin. ``But the dunk contest will be LeBron's decision. He said no before, but if he's healthy enough, he could change his mind.''

If James does enter the contest, Goodwin is confident he'll put on quite a show.

``He's the best game dunker in the league,'' Goodwin said. ``Obviously the league is salivating at the thought of him being in it.''

James had several monster dunks in Monday night's win over Boston before straining his left calf muscle late in the third quarter. He returned in the fourth period and scored five of his 24 points in Cleveland's 97-89 win.

James was limited in practice Tuesday but expects to play Wednesday night against New Jersey.

CLEVELAND (AP) Returning to the ``black hole,'' Boston Celtics guard Ricky Davis apologized to the few fans he still has here _ but not to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Davis was back in Gund Arena on Monday for the first time since he was traded to Boston on Dec. 15 in a six-player deal that caused dramatic changes to both teams.

``It felt a little like homecoming back here,'' said Davis, who didn't speak so lovingly of Cleveland after he left.

Shortly after the trade, Davis rankled fans by criticizing the Cavs, general manager Jim Paxson and the city.

``I was glad to be out of the black hole,'' Davis said then. ``It was terrible over there. The organization. No system. The town. Everything. The GM. All of it is kind of backward. It's good to be in a winning organization that has a system and knows what's going on.

``It's a step up in everything ... class, coaches, owners, GMs, players, winning, tradition, everything.''

However, following the Celtics' morning shootaround to get ready for Monday night's game against the Cavaliers, Davis said he regretted some of his remarks.

``I want to apologize to the fans, they were always here during the bad times,'' he said. ``They know I love them, and it was just hard times over here.''

As for his other post-trade targets, Davis wasn't as contrite.

Asked if he was sorry for ripping Paxson and the organization, Davis paused and said, ``I don't really want to go in to all of that, but I like my fans.''

The Cavs were 6-17 when they traded Davis and forwards Chris Mihm and Michael Stewart to the Celtics for Eric Williams, Tony Battie and Kedrick Brown. Since then, Cleveland has gone 13-15 and moved back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.

During the same span, the Celtics have spiraled downward with coach Jim O'Brien's recent resignation the low point.

Davis's departure was viewed as a necessity in Cleveland, where he wasn't happy playing a supporting role to rookie star LeBron James.

But at least he was a starter. With the Celtics, Davis is averaging 12.5 points in 27.3 minutes coming off the bench.

``It's tough,'' he said. ``You have to think about what you're doing out there. You have to come in warmed up and ready.''

Davis was positive Cleveland fans would be warmed up and ready for him Monday night.

``A little bit of this, a little bit of that probably,'' he said when asked what type of reception he thought he'd get. ``A few cheers, a few boos. All of it.''