James Gets 41 Points in Cleveland Victory

LeBron James picked the perfect opportunity to play the best game of his professional career.

James scored a career-high 41 points, including the final 10 for Cleveland, as the Cavaliers overtook the New Jersey Nets in the closing seconds for a 107-104 victory Saturday night at Cleveland.

“I don’t like losing. I seized the opportunity for us to win and I was able to capture it,” said the 19-year-old rookie, who became the youngest player to score 40 or more points in an NBA game.

James scored the winning basket with 16 seconds left after tipping a pass by Richard Jefferson. Kedrick Brown grabbed the deflection and got it to James, who drove half the court for a left-handed layup, making it 105-104.

After Jefferson missed a jump shot on the ensuing possession, James got a long rebound and again drove to the hoop, dunking for the final basket with two seconds left and sending the sellout crowd into a frenzy.

James also had a career-high 13 assists along with six rebounds and three steals.

The Cavaliers moved into a tie with Boston for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Also, Cleveland put point guard Jeff McInnis on the injured list Saturday with a bruised right shoulder.

Utah 85, Denver 83 -- Carlos Arroyo made a 12-foot jump shot as time expired at Salt Lake City to help the Jazz move a game ahead of the Nuggets in the Western Conference playoff race.

After the Nuggets were called for an offensive foul with 1.2 seconds left, Raja Bell waited for players to clear on the inbounds play and found Arroyo open for the winning shot. Arroyo jumped into the arms of his teammates and pounded his chest as Utah celebrated its first victory this season over the Nuggets.

Detroit 100, New York 85 -- Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points and Richard Hamilton added 18 to lift the Pistons over the short-handed Knicks at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Detroit played without Rasheed Wallace, who has an injured back, but the Knicks were down to only nine healthy players with Allan Houston (left quadriceps), Penny Hardaway (groin) and Tim Thomas (groin) sidelined.

DerMarr Johnson led the Knicks with 17 and Vin Baker added 16, his highest point total since joining New York.

Atlanta 97, Chicago 88 -- Stephen Jackson scored 27 points and Jason Terry added 26 at Atlanta to help the Hawks win consecutive games for only the second time.

Even with the two consecutive victories, the Hawks are only 6-14 since the All-Star break, but that has been enough to stay ahead of the Bulls at the bottom of the Central Division. Chicago has lost 11 of 13.

San Antonio 105, Phoenix 76 -- The Spurs opened with an 18-5 run and were never threatened at San Antonio. The Spurs moved within a game of first-place Minnesota in the Midwest.

Portland 115, Seattle 108 -- Zach Randolph had 25 points and nine rebounds to lead the Trail Blazers at Portland.

Portland is ninth in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Utah for the final playoff spot.

Ray Allen had 32 points for the SuperSonics, who had a seven-game winning streak snapped.