Cavs win 10th straight at home in Knicks blowout

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers won a franchise-best 10th home game in a row in a 118-82 blowout of the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

LeBron James, who has been linked with a future move to New York, led a balanced scoring effort with 21 points and added six assists and five rebounds to power the Cavs to a 15-3 record.

Despite constant questions about his plans for 2010 when he becomes a free agent, last season's NBA top scorer again proved the speculation was no distraction to him or his team.

"It's a distraction for the Knicks, not for us," James told reporters after sitting out the fourth period. "We're good. We're going to stay humble and play every game like it's our last."

Off-season acquisition Mo Williams added 16 points, while center Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavs in their biggest-ever win against the Knicks.

Cleveland led 61-35 at halftime and was able to give its starters significant rest as the team easily secured a 14th win in their last 15 contests.

Al Harrington scored 20 points, while David Lee recorded 16 points and 16 rebounds for the short-handed Knicks, beaten by the Cavs for the second time in eight days.

The Knicks were without five players, including estranged point guard Stephon Marbury, who has been told to stay away from the team after refusing to play against Detroit last month.

To add insult to injury for New York, forward Quentin Richardson was tossed from the contest after receiving his second technical foul during the second quarter.

"I think everybody's frustrated," said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. "You usually get frustrated when you're tired, and I thought that got to us."

New York (8-10) has lost six of its last eight and has struggled for consistency since trading away two of its top players, Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph, on November 21.

The move cleared financial space for the Knicks, ostensibly to make an attempt at signing James when he becomes a free agent in 2010.

Cleveland has won its last six games by more than 10 points, and leads the Central Division by 3 games.

The team won its first nine games at home in both the 1976-77 and 1991-92 seasons.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Alastair Himmer)