The big man, the one who started off as a "skinny kid from Lithuania" and overcame injuries that would have stopped others, grappled with his emotions as he said thanks to the fans who adopted him as their own.

"Thanks for giving me a place I can proudly call home," he said.

Cleveland roared back.

At 7-foot-3, Ilgauskas towered over everyone yet stayed completely down to earth.

Soft-spoken and doggedly determined, Ilgauskas, who overcame injuries and personal tragedy to become one of Cleveland's best and most beloved players, had his No. 11 jersey retired Saturday night during an elaborate and emotional halftime ceremony as the Cavs hosted the Knicks.

The seventh player in team history to receive the honor, Ilgauskas joins Austin Carr, Nate Thurmond, Bobby "Bingo" Smith, Larry Nance, Brad Daugherty and Mark Price in having his number raised to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.

All of them have career credentials worthy of the tribute, but the celebration for Ilgauskas goes far beyond any statistics.

"Throw basketball stuff out the window," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "He's a terrific human being."

During the ceremony, Ilgauskas was joined on the court by his wife, Jennifer, and their adopted sons, Deividas and Povilas. His parents also attended along with friends, former Cavs owner Gordon Gund and dozens of ex-teammates, including superstar LeBron James, who was invited by Ilgauskas and wanted to support the player affectionately known as "Z."

"Probably one of the most talented guys I ever played with," said James, who chartered a jet and flew in to be with his close friend.

James kept a low profile during the ceremony, staying close to the Cavs bench. He took pictures with his phone but didn't want his appearance to overshadow his former teammate.

This was Z's night.


LANDRY OUT FOR SEASON


Kings forward Carl Landry had missed the past five games with what the team was calling a sore knee. Turns out it's more than a minor injury.

Sacramento announced on Saturday that an MRI revealed a torn meniscus in Landry's right knee, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. He will have surgery at a later date.

Landry was averaging 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in just 18 games this season; he didn't play until until mid-January due to hip surgery in October.

The forward is in his second stint with the Kings, having signed a four-year contract with the franchise last offseason. Landry also played for the team in the second half of the 2009-10 season after arriving via trade. He began the 2010-11 season with Sacramento before being traded once again in February.

It's a decently significant loss for the Kings, but considering they're completely out of contention and would like as high a draft pick as possible, Landry's absence won't be the worst thing in the world.


MAYO SUSPENDED


Milwaukee Bucks guard O.J. Mayo has been suspended one game for punching New Orleans Pelicans center Greg Stiemsma in the throat.

The incident occurred with 1:52 remaining in the first quarter of Milwaukee's 112-104 loss to the Pelicans on Friday. Mayo got tied up with Stiemsma as he tried to get around a screen set by the big man.

Mayo was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected. He will serve the suspension Saturday night when the Bucks host the Washington Wizards.

Contributors: Ben Estes, The Associated Press