CHICAGO: LeBron James scored 41 points against Chicago for the second time in four days, and the Cleveland Cavaliers hung on for a 106-97 victory on Saturday.
James was at it again after a big performance in a 14-point win over Chicago at home Wednesday night.
This time, he scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to start a 15-0 run as the Cavaliers turned a three-point deficit into an 89-77 lead. And he hit two key 3-pointers after Chicago cut it to two in the closing minutes.
It was a difficult night for the Bulls, who learned guard Kirk Hinrich will miss up to three months with a thumb injury. Andres Nocioni's 3-pointer made it 96-90 with 3:30 left and two more jumpers by Ben Gordon made it 96-94 with 2:15 remaining.
James answered with a 3-pointer from the wing and, after two free throws by Gordon, struck again from long range, leaping after the shot went in. That made it 102-96 with 1:28 remaining, and the Cavaliers hung on from there.
James hit 13 of 29 shots in his seventh straight game against Chicago with 30 or more points and had 13 rebounds. Gordon scored 29 points for Chicago.
Magic 106, Wizards 81
At Orlando, Florida, Dwight Howard had a season-high 31 points and 16 rebounds, and also blocked three shots to help Orlando beat winless Washington for its fourth straight victory.
Howard, who leads the NBA in blocked shots, hit 11 of 13 shots and nine of 14 free throws. Mickael Pietrus added 18 points, and Keith Bogans had 13 for Orlando (4-2).
Orlando built a 58-39 halftime lead and blew the game open in the third quarter when Howard scored 12 points.
"Dwight was outstanding," Magic coach Stan van Gundy told reporters. "I've seen him have numbers like that before but I'm not sure he's played a better game since I've been here."
Nick Young had 20 points for the Wizards (0-5), the only team in the Eastern Conference without a victory this season.
Hornets 100, Heat 89
At New Orleans, Chris Paul had 21 points and 13 assists for his sixth straight double-double to help New Orleans down Miami and snap a two-game losing streak.
Paul set an NBA record for consecutive games at the start of a season with at least 20 points and 10 assists, breaking the mark set by Oscar Robertson in 1968.
Paul also had seven rebounds. David West added 21 points for New Orleans. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 30 points, and Udonis Haslem added 12.
Pacers 98, Nets 80
At Indianapolis, Danny Granger scored 23 points to lead Indiana past New Jersey, making 10 of 12 free throws to offset 6-for-17 shooting from the field.
Indiana guard T.J. Ford nearly had a triple-double, but settled for 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Troy Murphy had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Vince Carter led New Jersey with 31 points.
Suns 104, Bucks 96
At Milwaukee, Shaquille O'Neal had 29 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix in his return from a one-game break.
O'Neal was 12-of-16 from the field a night after skipping a game in Chicago as part of a strategy to occasionally rest him during the season.
Amare Stoudemire added 22 points, making 18 of 20 free throws to help the Suns beat the Bucks for the fifth straight time.
Ramon Sessions led Milwaukee with 23 points.
Trail Blazers 97, Timberwolves 93
At Portland, Oregon, LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Brandon Roy added 24 points and nine assists to help Portland beat Minnesota and improve to 3-0 at home.
Al Jefferson finished with 27 points after starting off 3-for-10 from the field for Minnesota in its fifth straight loss. Mike Miller had 14 points and six assists.
Source: China Daily/Agencies
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