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James eyes Kobe's record at MSG

Feb 4, 2009 - 11:14 AM Cleveland (38-9) at New York (21-26) 7:30 p.m. EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- One eye-popping performance deserves another, and LeBron James is hoping to provide that at Madison Square Garden.

James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the New York Knicks on Wednesday, two days after a record-setting night at "the World's Most Famous Arena."

Although the Knicks endured a 126-117 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, ending a three-game winning streak, not many fans went home unhappy as Kobe Bryant scored 61 points to set the all-time scoring record at the current MSG - previously held by Bernard King.

James, who has not hidden his interest in making MSG his permanent home when his contract with the Cavaliers expires after next season, hopes to do one better than the reigning MVP Bryant on Wednesday.

The NBA's second-leading scorer, James is certainly capable of setting his own record after recording 50 points and 10 assists during a 119-105 victory at MSG on March 5.

If he plans on duplicating that performance, he'll have to stay on the court longer than he has during the first two meetings with the Knicks.

James scored 26 points in New York before sitting out the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers' 119-101 victory on November 25. He followed that performance with 21 points and left with 2:33 remaining in the third as Cleveland posted a 118-82 romp on December 3.