PHOENIX (Ticker) -- LeBron James' second game was nearly as good as his first, but it still wasn't enough to get him his first NBA win.
James flirted with a triple-double, but reigning Rookie of the Year Amare Stoudemire scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 95-86 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"I was focused," Stoudemire said. "You know we needed to play and get a win, I just came out and played hard."
The top overall pick in the 2003 draft, James collected 21 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. He hit 8-of-17 shots from the field but missed 4-of-5 3-pointers and committed seven of the Cavaliers' 19 turnovers.
"I know I'm going to lose one or two," James said. "So I'm not reflecting on how many we're going to lose, I'm reflecting on how good a team we can become."
Stoudemire was not as good from the field at 7-of-18 but made 11-of-14 free throws and blocked three shots.
"LeBron is a special player," Suns coach Frank Johnson said. "His guys love playing with him because he just makes everyone around him better. Think about it, 21 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and don't worry about the seven turnovers because that happens when you're a young guy and a lot of different things are thrown at you."
James had 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in his NBA debut on Tuesday at Sacramento.
Stephon Marbury added 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds for Phoenix, which bounced back from a season-opening 83-82 loss at San Antonio. Shawn Marion contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Ricky Davis led Cleveland with 22 points and pulled down six rebounds. Carlos Boozer added 15 rebounds and 11 points while Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 13 points.
Cleveland's defense kept the game close. Phoenix shot just 20 percent (4-of-20) in the third quarter. Davis capitalized on eight consecutive misses by the Suns by hitting a 3-pointer and jumper to give Cleveland a 67-65 lead with 3:35 left in the period.
The Cavaliers outrebounded Phoenix, 52-43, and led, 73-72, after three quarters. But poor shooting and ballhandling contributed to a second straight loss.
Cleveland grabbed a 75-74 lead with 8:53 to go on a dunk by Boozer. Phoenix went back in front seconds later on a jumper by Marion, who missed the ensuing free throw. But Stoudemire had six points during a 10-3 run that stretched the Suns' lead to 84-74 with 6 1/2 minutes to play.
"We didn't execute down the stretch," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. "That's a disappointing thing. The last two ballgames, we have to find a way to win ballgames. We are just giving games away."
"We're a young team," James added. "I don't want to make excuses, but we have to learn how to tough it out during the stretch."
James slammed down a highlight reel dunk with just under three minutes left in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 49-43. He beat Marion to the baseline and exploded with an unchallenged righthanded slam, getting his elbow over the rim.
But Phoenix outscored Cleveland, 23-18, to take a 53-49 halftime lead.
First-round pick Zarko Cabarkapa stole the ball from Davis, then slammed over him to give Phoenix a 74-73 lead with 10:21 remaining. It was Cabarkapa's only basket in 12 minutes.
Stoudemire received a technical foul for arguing with Ilgauskas with 1:01 remaining.
