MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -LeBron James scored a season-high 51 points, including 25 in the fourth quarter and overtime, to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 132-124 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
James made 18 of 28 shots and also had nine assists and eight rebounds as the Cavaliers handed their Grizzlies their fifth straight loss. James’ career high is 56 points against Toronto in March 2005.
Rudy Gay scored 30 for the Grizzlies, and reserve Juan Carlos Navarro went 6-for-10 from 3-point range on his way to 26 points. Mike Conley had a career-high 20 points, and added seven assists.
The teams were tied at 113 at the end of regulation after Navarro’s 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left. James missed the game-winner from 19 feet as time expired in regulation.
Pau Gasol finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who shot 54 percent from the field.
Cleveland shot 53 percent in winning its ninth game in the last 12.
Daniel Gibson scored 18 for the Cavaliers, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 14. Drew Gooden finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Knicks 105, Wizards 93
NEW YORK (AP) – Jamal Crawford scored 29 points and New York won consecutive games for only the third time this season.
Zach Randolph and Nate Robinson added 14 points apiece for the Knicks, who will go for their first three-game winning streak of the season Wednesday at New Jersey. Two nights after an 89-65 victory over Detroit, the Knicks built a 22-point lead in the first half, then turned back every push by Washington, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Both victories came without starting point guard Stephon Marbury, who has bone spurs in his left ankle and will also miss Wednesday’s game.
Caron Butler scored 24 points and Antawn Jamison had 21 for the Wizards, who have played most of the season without All-Star Gilbert Arenas and on Tuesday had to go without his replacement, Antonio Daniels, who had a sore right knee. Roger Mason started at point guard and scored 20.
Pistons 103, Raptors 89
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) – Richard Hamilton scored a season-high 39 points as Detroit rebounded from an embarrassing loss by beating Toronto.
Hamilton hit 16 of 22 shots in Detroit’s first game since losing 89-65 to the last-place New York Knicks on Sunday.
Chauncey Billups added 20 points for Detroit and Antonio McDyess had nine points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven steals.
Chris Bosh, who averaged 39 points in Toronto’s last two games, was held to 16 by the team that passed on him for Darko Milicic in the 2003 draft.
Hawks 104, Nuggets 93
ATLANTA (AP) – Joe Johnson scored 22 points and Atlanta held off a late rally by Denver.
Denver, which trailed by 25 early in the third quarter, cut the lead to 101-93 on Carmelo Anthony’s fallaway with 1:50 left. But Denver’s Allen Iverson and J.R. Smith were ejected with 38.9 seconds left and the Nuggets could get no closer.
Iverson was called for turnovers on consecutive possessions. Iverson, hoping for a foul call on the second turnover, protested to officials and was ejected. Smith joined the argument, also earning his early exit.
Smith threw his headband and jersey into the crowd after leaving the court.
Anthony scored 36 points, Iverson had 27 and Smith 21. No other Denver player scored more than five points.
Marvin Williams scored 19 and Josh Childress 17 as six Atlanta players scored in double figures.
Magic 102, Bulls 88
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Rashard Lewis scored 26 points and Dwight Howard added 15 and 11 rebounds to help Orlando rout Chicago.
Brian Cook, playing for only the second time in the last 14 games, had 14 points in just 13 minutes off the bench. Keith Bogans added 15 points for Orlando, which had lost five of its last six games.
Chicago, which was outscored 32-10 in the decisive third period, had only three players in double figures. Joe Smith led the way with 13 points, rookie Joakim Noah had 12 and a career-best 11 rebounds and Luol Deng added 10.
76ers 111, Rockets 107
HOUSTON (AP) – Andre Miller scored 26 points, Samuel Dalembert added 19 points and blocked a shot in the final seconds, and Philadelphia rallied from 16 points down to beat Houston.
Louis Williams scored 18 and Andre Iguodala had 17 for the Sixers, who snapped a seven-game losing streak and a five-game road skid.
The Sixers led 107-104 after Dalembert scored with 35.1 seconds left.
Luis Scola rebounded Yao Ming’s miss at the other end, but Dalembert blocked Scola’s putback try. Iguodala hit two free throws with 16.6 seconds left to put the game away.
Yao scored 25 points and Rafer Alston added 20 for Houston, which dropped to 7-4 since Tracy McGrady went out with a left knee injury. McGrady is expected to play against San Antonio on Saturday.
Warriors 105, Timberwolves 98
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Baron Davis had 22 points, nine assists and a season-high five steals to lead Golden State.
Stephen Jackson added 21 points for the Warriors.
Antoine Walker had season highs with 26 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for Minnesota, which has lost three in a row. Al Jefferson added 18 points and 14 boards.
Losing comes in bunches for these young Wolves (5-32), who haven’t halted a losing streak at fewer than five games this season.
Monta Ellis scored 12 of his 17 points in the first quarter and the Warriors scored 31 points off 20 Minnesota turnovers to win their third straight game as they try to keep pace with the surging Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division.
Clippers 97, Suns 90
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Sam Cassell broke out of a shooting slump in a big way, scoring 32 points to lead the Clippers past Phoenix, knocking the Suns out of first place in the Western Conference.
The 38-year-old Cassell, who was 7-for-31 in his previous four games, burned the Suns by making 15 of 21 shots to help the Clippers snap a four-game losing streak and win for just the second time in 12 games. He also had six rebounds and seven assists.
Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 29 points and eight rebounds.
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