Cavaliers End Road Losing Streak

LeBron James is making the Cleveland Cavaliers his team.

The star rookie made five three-point shots and scored 36 points, helping Cleveland end a road losing streak at 34 games with an 88-81 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

It was the Cavaliers’ first road win since Jan. 12 at Seattle.

Cleveland’s road losing streak tied for the second-longest in NBA history behind Sacramento’s 43-game streak in the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. New Jersey also had a 34-game streak in the 1989-90 and 1990-91 campaigns.

“It was great to get a road win,” James said. “My teammates are seeing I’m coming into my own. I’m focused and playing hard every game.”

James made 14 of 24 shots, including five of seven from three-point range.

He made all three of his free throws and had four rebounds and five assists. James, who turns 19 on Dec. 30, fell one point short of his career-best 37 against Boston last Saturday.

“I’m a natural-born leader,” James said. “My teammates are coming to me now and I’ve been a leader all my life.”

The 76ers, again playing without Allen Iverson, have lost three of four.

San Antonio 87, Seattle 73 -- Tim Duncan had 27 points and 20 rebounds, leading the visiting Spurs to their ninth straight victory.

Tony Parker scored 16 points and Manu Ginobili added 14 for San Antonio, which has its longest winning streak since it won 10 straight in the 2001-2002 season.

Sacramento 98, Atlanta 86 -- Brad Miller had his third straight double-double and hit a big three-point shot late to help the visiting Kings hold off the Hawks.

Miller finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds and Peja Stojakovic scored 31 for Sacramento, which has won six of seven games.

Memphis 97, Miami 83 -- The Grizzlies moved five games over .500 for the first time in franchise history as Mike Miller scored 18 points to lead six players in double figures at Memphis.

Indiana 80, Detroit 75 -- Ron Artest scored 22 points, Jermaine O’Neal added 19 and Austin Croshere came off the bench for 12, all in the fourth quarter, as the Pacers overcame poor shooting and beat the visiting Pistons.

Orlando 119, Golden State 93 -- Tracy McGrady had 29 points and a season-high 12 assists in leading the host Magic to its largest margin of victory of the season.

Drew Gooden added a season-best 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic, which has won five of seven.

Toronto 105, New York 99 -- Vince Carter scored 10 of his team’s 12 points in overtime to help the host Raptors end a losing streak at four games.

New Jersey 97, Washington 87 -- Kenyon Martin had 22 points, 14 rebounds and five assists and the Nets spoiled former assistant coach Eddie Jordan’s return to New Jersey by beating the Wizards.

Utah 99, Boston 96 -- Raja Bell’s jumper with 26.8 seconds left put the Jazz ahead for good at Boston. Bell, who did not score until hitting the go-ahead bucket as the shot clock expired, scored the last four points of the game as Utah won for the third time in 12 road games.