James sits Cavs' season finale

4/16/2008 6:43 PM

By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) -LeBron James ended his season as the NBA's scoring champion.

Cleveland's All-Star forward was not expected to play Wednesday night in the Cavaliers' final regular-season game against the Detroit Pistons so he could get some extra rest for the playoffs.

James, bothered by back spasms in recent weeks, finished with a 30.0 scoring average and became the first Cavaliers player to lead the league in scoring.

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown also sat center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the club's leading rebounder.

Meanwhile, Pistons coach Flip Saunders had his usual starting lineup on the floor.

Cleveland, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, will host the Washington Wizards. It will be the third straight year the teams have met in the first round. The Cavaliers have won both previous matchups.

Detroit, which lost to Cleveland in last season's Eastern Conference finals, will open the playoffs Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

James was inactive for Cleveland's final home game and didn't dress. He sat behind the Cavs' bench, wearing a tan sports coat and jeans.

The 23-year-old had his best statistical season in his fifth year as a pro, averaging career-highs in rebounds (7.9) rebounds and equaling his best in assists (7.2). James is the first player to average 30-7-7 in one season since Michael Jordan in 1988-89, and he joined Jordan and Oscar Robertson as the only players ever to do it.

Cavs coach Mike Brown wasn't shocked by James topping all scorers this season.

``I'm not surprised that it happened,'' Brown said. ``There's nothing he can do that surprises me. He's going to be so much better than he is right now after all is said and done.''