LeBron James and Cavaliers rally to end Boston Celtics’ five-game winning streak

LeBron James scored 20 of his 28 points in the second half, and seven teammates scored in double figures as the Cavaliers shook off a slow start for a 120-103 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers were down 18 points in the first quarter but regrouped and stopped Boston’s winning streak at five games. Kyrie Irving scored 21 points and Iman Shumpert had 12 plus a career-high 16 rebounds for Cleveland, which moved 2 1/2 games ahead of Toronto for the best record in the East. Third-place Boston dropped 7 1/2 back.

James, who had 11 rebounds and eight assists, also passed Tim Duncan for 14th place on the NBA’s career scoring list. He has 26,378 points, 12 more than Duncan. Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 27.

at San Antonio 104, Sacramento 94: Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Manu Ginobili scored 22 points in his return from a 12-game absence following testicle surgery, and the short-handed Spurs won their eighth in a row to improve to 30-0 at home and extend their franchise-record start to 53-9. San Antonio starters LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan and Danny Green sat out to rest.

at Chicago 108, Houston 100: Pau Gasol had 28 points and 17 rebounds, Jimmy Butler scored 24 in his return from a 10-game absence caused by a knee injury, and the Bulls moved up to eighth in the East. James Harden scored 36 for the Rockets.

Indiana 100, at Washington 99: Paul George scored 38 points, including two free throws with three seconds left to win it for the Pacers. John Wall had 25 points and 12 assists but missed a jumper at the buzzer for the Wizards, who dropped 2 1/2 games behind seventh-place Indiana in the East. George was coming off a 35-point effort Friday night.

Utah 106, at New Orleans 94: Derrick Favors had 28 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks to help the Jazz snap a five-game skid. Anthony Davis had 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who lost their fourth in a row and might have lost guard Eric Gordon for the season after he again fractured his right ring finger.

at New York 102, Detroit 89: Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Knicks, playing without injured Kristaps Porzingis, ended a three-game losing streak and won for just the fourth time in 20 games.

at Minnesota 132, Brooklyn 118: Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Timberwolves, who shot a franchise-record 68.4%..

Atlanta at Clippers, late