James's 32 lead Cavs to victory
LeBron James scored 12 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Cavaliers past the Chicago Bulls, 102-91, last night in Cleveland.
James surpassed 30 points for the 16th time this season and ninth in December as the Cavaliers stretched their winning streak to six games. It was their second victory over Chicago in five days.
Drew Gooden scored 20 points and Larry Hughes added 19 as Cleveland improved to an Eastern Conference-best 12-3 at home.
Andres Nocioni, Chris Duhon and Tyson Chandler scored 15 apiece to lead the Bulls, who lost their fourth in a row.
James, coming off a 4-for-16 performance with only 14 points in a win over Indiana on Friday night, shot 12 of 15 from the field against the Bulls and added eight rebounds and six assists.
James is averaging 32.7 points in 12 games during December, helping the Cavaliers (17-9) move a season-high eight games above .500.
The Bulls came in tied for the NBA lead in 3-point shooting with Milwaukee and Detroit at 40 percent, but went 1 for 10 in the first half and trailed at the break, 55-45.
Wizards 94, Lakers 91 -- Gilbert Arenas scored 34 points and keyed a second-half comeback to lead Washington past visiting Los Angeles for the Wizards' third straight victory.
The Wizards ended the third quarter on a 21-3 run to take a 72-66 lead after trailing by 9 at halftime and by as many as 16 in the second quarter. Arenas scored 10 points during the decisive run.
The Lakers trailed by 3 points with 16 seconds left and got the ball back after Washington turned it over on a late whistle against Arenas for traveling. But the Wizards double-teamed Kobe Bryant, who turned it over, and the Wizards ran out the clock for the victory.
The Wizards led throughout the fourth, though never by more than 8, and Bryant twice hit 3-pointers late in the period to bring the Lakers within 3 points.
Nets 109, Knicks 101 -- Vince Carter scored 27 points and Richard Jefferson added 23 to lead visiting New Jersey past New York, extending the Nets' winning streak to six games.
Carter has led New Jersey in scoring in all the six wins. He has averaged 34 points during that span, New Jersey's longest winning streak since winning a franchise-record 14 straight in 2004. Jason Kidd added nine assists and reserve forward Clifford Robinson had 16 points.
Stephon Marbury also scored 21 points and Channing Frye added 18 for New York, which was trying to win consecutive games for only the second time this season.
Suns 103, Timberwolves 89 -- Boris Diaw had a career-high 31 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists to lead Phoenix past stumbling Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Steve Nash, too quick for any of Minnesota's point guards, had 24 points and 12 assists. Shawn Marion added 21 points and 16 rebounds for Phoenix, which had lost five of its previous seven.
Magic 108, Bucks 93 -- Steve Francis scored 21 points and Grant Hill added 20 to lead host Orlando over Milwaukee. Dwight Howard returned from a sprained right ankle that kept him out of most of Friday's loss to the Lakers. He finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds, and gave the Magic a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter with an alley-oop from DeShawn Stevenson with 6:52 remaining.
Mavericks 102, Pacers 80 -- Devin Harris scored 20 points, including a 20-footer that he intended to be a pass, and Jerry Stackhouse proved his injured knee is doing fine with an active third quarter that featured a tremendous dunk, leading host Dallas to a highlight-filled victory over Indiana. Dirk Nowitzki added 23 points to help the Mavericks tie San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference at 21-7.
