James, tightly guarded by Andre Iguodala with the score tied near the end of Game 1, made a potentially costly decision in opting for a long jumper instead of driving to the basket.
Griner filed papers seeking to annul her 28-day marriage to Glory Johnson.
Thomas, returning to Madison Square Garden as team president, watched the New York W.N.B.A. squad win as about 20 fans protested his hiring.
The injury, which Irving is expected to take three to four months to recover from, ended his season.
The high-profile agent will be vice chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment, which includes operating as a liaison to the Detroit-area community.