CLEVELAND (AP) -LeBron James scored 28 points after missing a game with a sprained right ankle, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 98-84 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
James missed Cleveland’s 101-95 loss in Seattle on Thursday after injuring the ankle the previous night against Portland. The Cavaliers, who are 0-6 without James this season, announced he would start about 45 minutes before the game.
That provided even more bad news for the Clippers, who played their fourth straight game without leading scorers Corey Maggette and Chris Kaman. Both were out with the flu and Los Angeles dressed nine players.
Al Thornton led the Clippers with 23 points while Cuttino Mobley scored 19.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Drew Gooden added 14 points and 12 boards, while James had 11 rebounds.
Magic 121, Pacers 115
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Dwight Howard had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Orlando beat Indiana for its fourth straight victory.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half, and Rashard Lewis added 19 points for Orlando (31-18).
Danny Granger finished with 29 points, Mike Dunleavy scored 19 and Troy Murphy chipped in 17 for the slumping Pacers (19-29), who dropped their sixth consecutive game.
Hawks 104, Nets 92
ATLANTA (AP) – Marvin Williams scored 24 points, Josh Smith and Josh Childress each had 23, and Atlanta ended a three-game losing streak by beating New Jersey.
The Hawks, who had dropped seven of eight, used a quick transition game to outscore New Jersey 16-7 on fast-break points in the second half.
Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 23 points. Reserve forward Bostjan Nachbar finished with 16 as New Jersey had a two-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 2-10 since Jan. 11.
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