JAMES BRINGS HIS STARDOM TO L.A.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

The day started with LeBron James filming a guest appearance in the sitcom ``My Wife and Kids'' with Damon Wayans. It ended with the 19-year-old future of the NBA performing in front of a typical star-studded crowd that included Denzel Washington.

But James' much-anticipated Staples Center showdown against the Lakers on Monday night ended up being a footnote in James' otherwise unforgettable rookie season.

One part of it was Kobe Bryant leaving in the second quarter with a sprained joint in his shoulder and the other was James shooting just 6 of 20 in the game, finishing with 16 points in the Cavaliers' 89-79 loss.

As a result, a true LeBron-versus-the-Lakers meeting will have to wait until Feb. 4 in Cleveland, though James said afterward he hopes to return to Los Angeles sooner rather than later.

``There's always a little extra adrenaline,'' James said. ``I love coming here to play. Hopefully, I'll be playing in the All-Star weekend (Feb. 15).''

Before the game, James was customarily cool, discussing everything from his rookie responsibilities (bringing donuts to home games) to the hysteria surrounding him (just an extension of high school, he said).

It fell to Cleveland coach Paul Silas to explain how James really felt going up against Bryant and the Lakers for the first time.

``Nervous as hell,'' Silas said. ``He gets that way with somebody like a Kobe. It kind of works against him sometimes. He gets up too much. He's got to take some deep breaths.''

At the start, James was guarded at one end by Bryant and had to guard Gary Payton at the other. But James took it to Bryant in the first quarter, making three consecutive shots in a 1 minute, 45 second stretch.

He backed down Bryant and connected on a one-handed hook, then spun away from him and drained a baseline jumper. Back on defense, James swiped the ball from Bryant at midcourt before capping the quarter with a three-point play against Horace Grant.

``I was just trying to be aggressive,'' said James, who added seven assists and five rebounds in 37 minutes. ``(Kobe's) going to be the same. That's just two players trying to compete.''

James also had a nice stretch to open the third quarter, hitting two jumpers and delivering a no-look pass to Kevin Ollie for a layup. By that point, James was matched up against Kareem Rush, with Bryant out of the game.

The Cavaliers dropped to 11-26 in James' first year, and their 25 percent shooting in the fourth quarter doomed them to defeat. James missed his final five shots, his last drive blocked by Devean George with 41.9 seconds remaining.

``We didn't have a go-to guy,'' Silas said, ``and if you don't at this point, you're not going to win very many games.''

The night ended largely unceremoniously. James untucked his jersey at the final horn, got a hug from Derek Fisher and Payton and flung his headband to the stands. He put on a designer ``King'' No. 23 jersey, signed an autograph and was gone.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) no caption (LeBron James)

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers rookie LeBron James played the Lakers for the first time at Staples Center on Wednesday and had 16 points.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

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