Torontos offensive line contributed to Rays record-breaking campaign and

CLEVELAND -- On a night of celebration, there were two surprising, strange sights: LeBron James back on Clevelands bench. The Knicks back in the NBA playoff chase. Carmelo Anthony shook off a congested chest and a horrid shooting start to score 26 points, leading New York to its third straight victory, 107-97 over Cleveland on a Saturday when James was briefly reunited with the Cavaliers. Amare Stoudemire added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, whose winning streak began after a seven-game slide and amid reports Phil Jackson may accept a job in New Yorks front office. Anthony missed his first six shots, but found his touch in time to help the Knicks in their late-season run at the playoffs. J.R. Smith scored 17 and Tyson Chandler added 15 points and 11 boards for New York, which is 3 1/2 games out of the final post-season spot in the Eastern Conference. "You can see something different over the last couple of games," Anthony said. "It seems like everyone has a sense of urgency right now. Were playing for something. We control our own destiny. We want to win as many games as we can down the stretch." Kyrie Irving had 30 points, eight assists and eight rebounds for the Cavs, who retired centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas No. 11 jersey at halftime. Spencer Hawes had 21 points for Cleveland, which dropped to 0-4 in March. The Knicks were as good as done just a few days ago. But with New York fans ready to write them off again, and coach Mike Woodsons future looking shakier than ever, the Knicks have responded with wins over Minnesota, Utah and Cleveland. Theres still plenty of work to do, and the Knicks will likely need some help, but a dreadful season to this point has some hope. "Theres no room for error," Woodson said. "We have to play each possession like its our last possession. The mental approach is a little different now. Its been a tough season for all of us. Now, theyre playing for something." The Knicks made four 3-pointers during a 14-1 run early in the fourth to take control. With New York down 80-77, Pablo Prigioni drained a 3, Smith followed with a long-range shot and Prigioni dropped another 3 to give the Knicks an 88-81 lead. After a Cleveland turnover, Anthony made his fourth 3-pointer, putting the Knicks ahead by 10 with 7:38 left. Cleveland never recovered and the Knicks outscored the Cavs 30-17 over the final 10 minutes. "Were fighting for our lives," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "This team was a game behind us and I just feel like we didnt come out with the right mindset to compete with this team for the eighth spot." The loss put a damper on an otherwise memorable night for the Cavs. At halftime, they retired Ilgauskas jersey during a poignant ceremony. The big man overcame serious foot injuries early in his career to become the clubs career leader in rebounds, games played and blocked shots. Ilgauskas thanked Cleveland fans during the ceremony, which included James sitting again on Clevelands sideline. James, who famously left Cleveland as a free agent in 2010, kept a low profile as Ilgauskas jersey was raised to the rafters, but afterward he greeted his close friend and then posed for photos on the floor with former teammates Delonte West and Daniel "Boobie" Gibson. Anthony said the long halftime break helped. "It was good for me because I got some rest," said Anthony, who was unaware James was at the game. "I got a chance to lay on the floor and let Z do his thing. He took some time up. I appreciate him for that." Anthony couldnt buy a basket in the early minutes before heating up. He scored nine straight points to help the Knicks open a 45-35 lead, and then made his sixth shot in a row, a 3-pointer, to give New York a 14-point cushion. Hawes made consecutive 3-pointers to get the Cavs within six, but Smith dropped the first of his five 3-pointers and New York pushed its lead to 58-43. Irving, though, closed the second quarter with seven quick points to pull the Cavs to 58-50 at halftime. NOTES: The Knicks made 14 3s. ... Cavs C Anderson Varejao played 9 minutes after missing the previous 12 games with a sore back. ... James flew in from Chicago to support Ilgauskas, his teammate for eight seasons in Cleveland. With the Heat playing on Sunday, James chartered a jet to witness the ceremony. Dressed smartly in a dark suit, James sat in a luxury suite during the first half before coming down to the floor at halftime to see Ilgauskas jersey raised to the rafters. ... Beginning with a game in Phoenix on Wednesday, the Cavs will play six straight games -- three at home, three on the road -- against teams currently in playoff position. 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The appointment of Boullier continues the behind-the-scenes restructuring at McLaren, who recently brought back former team principal Ron Dennis as its new chief executive. Jeremy Roenick Jersey . -- Jonathan Vilmas season is over and his future on the football field is in doubt.TORONTO -- Hes one of only two Canadians to ever win the CFLs outstanding player award, but Tony Gabriel believes Jon Cornish belongs in that select fraternity. The Calgary Stampeders running back received the West Division nomination for the CFLs top individual award Thursday in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada and leagues eight head coaches. Quarterback Ricky Ray, who led the defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts atop the East Division, was named a first-time finalist for the honour. The six-foot, 217-pound Cornish ran for a CFL-high 1,813 yards, the most in a season by a Canadian. The 29-year-old native of New Westminster, B.C., also led the league in yards from scrimmage (2,157) and TDs (14) and helped Calgary (14-4) finish atop the West Division. Gabriel, 64, of Burlington, Ont., was the last Canadian to be named the CFLs top player, doing so in 1978 as a tight end with Ottawa. Former Rough Riders quarterback Russ Jackson, 77, of Hamilton, was a three-time winner (1963, 66, 69). "Im excited and elated about Jon Cornishs achievements through the course of this past year," Gabriel said Thursday in a telephone interview. "I think he has matured quite a bit in terms of challenging himself to have a better year all-round in comparison to last year. "Hes an astute gentleman off the field and certainly is very impressive. I just wanted to extend to him my sincerest wishes and I believe hes the most outstanding player this year." Ray, 34, enjoyed a record-setting second season with Toronto. The California native had a CFL-record 77.2 per cent completion average and just two interceptions in 303 pass attempts to become the first player to have an interception percentage under 1.0 (0.7). However, Ray only appeared in 11 regular-season games this year. He missed six starts due to injury and was a healthy scratch in Torontos regular-season finale. "Its awesome, Im glad Im in the running," Ray said. "As far as stats go, its been one of the best years Ive ever had. "Obviously I dealt with injuries and didnt get in as much as I wouldve wanted to . . . this just means our team had a good year finishing first with a lot of great players around me. Its the first time in my career Ive been nominated so Im definitely very pleased." Ray also praised Cornish for his outstanding campaign. "Hes so consistent," Ray said. "Every week it seems like hes going for 100 yards and he really puts his team in position to win. "The last few years hes been having great years and hes going to be a tough guy to go up against." Cornish was also nominated as top Canadian -- an award he won last year -- and was one of four Stampeders finalists. The others include defensive end Charleston Hughes (defensive player), centre Brett Jones (rookie) and kicker Rene Paredes (special-teams player). Brendon LaBatte of the Saskatchewan Roughriders was the West Divisions top lineman. The other East Division finalists are Montreal linebacker Chip Cox (defensive player), Winnipeg linebacker Henoc Muamba (Canadian), Toronto centre Jeff Keeping (lineman) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats C.J. Gable (rookie) and Marc Beswick (special-teams player). There were no unanimous selections but a record eight Canadians receivedd nominations.dddddddddddd The CFLs awards banquet is Nov. 21 in Regina. The six-foot-one, 244-pound Hughes terrorized CFL quarterbacks, registering a league-high 18 sacks. The 29-year-old native of Saginaw, Mich., anchored a Calgary defence that led the league in sacks (63) and was second in fewest points allowed (22.9 points per game). Cox, 30, was a key performer in a Montreal defence that allowed a CFL-low 314.3 yards per game. The five-foot-nine, 185-pound linebacker led the league in tackles (club-record 115), and had a team-high 12 sacks and four interceptions. The six-foot, 230-pound Muamba, taken first overall in the 2011 CFL draft, was a bright spot for Winnipeg (3-15). The former St. Francis Xavier star finished second overall in tackles (106) and added 18 special-teams tackles, a sack and interception. Muamba, 24, was born in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) but grew up in Mississauga, Ont. He also was Winnipegs selection as outstanding player and top defensive player and is slated to become a free agent this off-season. Paredes was the CFLs scoring leader with 213 points and also converted 54-of-57 field goals (league-record 94.7 per cent). The Venezuela native, who grew up in Pierrefonds, Que., also made a league-record 39 straight field goals this year. The six-foot-one, 198-pound Beswick posted a league-leading 24 special-teams tackles and was an East Division all-star this year. The 30-year-old Vancouver native has led Hamilton in special-teams tackles the last four seasons. The six-foot-four, 323-pound LaBatte is a division finalist for the first time in his six-year CFL career. The 27-year-old native of Weyburn, Sask., anchored an offensive line that paved the way for Kory Sheets, the CFLs second-leading rusher with 1,598 yards, while allowing 57 sacks, third-fewest in league. "Its definitely something Im happy and grateful for," LaBatte said. "When someone appreciates enough what you do on the field to vote for you and put you up for those kind of award, thats something Im very grateful for and I respect that a lot." Its also the first career nomination for Keeping, 31, a six-foot-five, 291-pound native of Uxbridge, Ont. Torontos offensive line contributed to Rays record-breaking campaign and helped the Argos lead the CFL in passing (300.3 yards per game). "Its very exciting and Im very honoured," said Keeping. "Any award for an O-lineman is obviously a reflection on the guys I play with . . . Im so lucky to have a group of guys that work hard, are diligent about studying and Ricky and the receivers and being successful as an offence is obviously the reason." The six-foot-two, 319-pound Jones, a 13 second-round pick, was the only Calgary offensive lineman to dress for every game. The 22-year-old native of Weyburn was a member of a Stampeders offence that led the CFL in net offensive yards (383.4 per game), TDs (51), scoring (30.5 points per game) and rushing (141.5 yards per game). Former USC star Gable led the East Division in rushing (782 yards) and averaged a solid six yards per carry while running for seven TDs. Gable also had 55 catches for 600 yards and five touchdowns and was fourth in yards from scrimmage (1,382) and eighth in all-purpose yards (1,630). ' ' '