LOS ANGELES (AP) -LeBron James scored 14 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 98-95 Sunday for their 12th win in 15 games.
Kobe Bryant scored nine of his 33 points in the final period, and also had 12 rebounds and six assists, but it wouldn’t be enough to keep the Lakers from losing their third straight to match their longest losing streak of the season.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 16 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 6:14 to play, and Larry Hughes also scored 16 points for the Cavaliers (24-19), who have beaten the Lakers in their last five meetings.
Lamar Odom had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers (27-15), who have a 2-4 record since center Andrew Bynum injured his left knee. It was their fourth game without Trevor Ariza, who broke his right foot. Neither player is expected to return before the middle of March.
The game was delayed for 12 minutes late in the first quarter because of a small leak in the Staples Center roof. It resulted in a steady flow of drops falling under the north basket – out of bounds but less than a foot from the baseline.
Magic 96, Celtics 93
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Hedo Turkoglu nailed an off-balance 3-pointer with time expiring to lift Orlando over Boston, which played without Kevin Garnett.
It was Orlando’s second home win over Boston this season, and the Celtics’ first game without Garnett, who has an abdominal strain.
Dwight Howard had 18 points and 16 rebounds for Orlando, and Rashard Lewis scored 15 points.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 24 points and nine rebounds, Ray Allen scored 17 and Rajon Rondo had 15 points and five assists.
Suns 88, Bulls 77
CHICAGO (AP) – Amare Stoudemire scored 24 points and Phoenix pulled away early in the fourth quarter to beat Chicago.
Leandro Barbosa scored 13 and started a 12-0 run in the fourth with a baseline drive and two 3-pointers, sending the Suns to their sixth win in seven games. Stoudemire shot 9-of-16, while Shawn Marion added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Steve Nash finished with 14 points, even though he did not score until he hit a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter.
Kirk Hinrich did all he could to keep the Bulls in the game, finishing with 31 points – the second time in less than a week he scored more than 30.
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