James Scores 52 in Cleveland’s Loss

LeBron James did everything but win.

James scored an NBA season-high 52 points on Saturday night, but T.J. Ford tied his career high with 24 and Michael Redd added 23 to help Milwaukee defeat James and Cleveland, 111-106, at Milwaukee.

James was 19 of 29 from the field, including five of nine shooting from three-point range. He fell four points short of his career high of 56 set in a loss at Toronto on March 20.

“I don’t want to score 50 again for the rest of my career because I am now 0-2 when I score 50,” James joked afterward. “I don’t look at it as me playing well. It’s the fact that we didn’t get a win and that’s all I care for.”

Kobe Bryant had the previous NBA high this season of 46 points for the Lakers in an overtime game against New Jersey on Nov. 27.

“He scored 50-some in Toronto and we ended up losing,” Zydrunas Ilgauskas said. “He obviously had a great night, but we couldn’t get the crucial stops. They beat us to the loose balls or they got the offensive boards or we had offensive breakdowns.”

The Bucks couldn’t stop James, but did a great job on his teammates.

“We didn’t want him to go off for 50, but he shot the ball so well coming out that it’s was kind of hard to stop him,” said Andrew Bogut, who had a career-high 21 points. “Other guys didn’t get involved in the second half and that keyed us.”

The Bucks have won five of their last six games.

Atlanta 94, San Antonio 84 -- Joe Johnson had 22 points and the Hawks snapped their seven-game losing streak and won for only the third time in beating the Spurs at Atlanta.

Sacramento 123, Seattle 104 -- Bonzi Wells scored a season-high 31 and Peja Stojakovic broke out a shooting slump with 23 to help the Kings snap a five-game losing streak at Seattle.

Chicago 118, Washington 111 -- Chris Duhon scored all of his 24 points in the second half, Kirk Hinrich had 22 points, and the Bulls rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to win at Washington. The Bulls ended the game with a 16-0 run. Gilbert Arenas had 42 points for the Wizards.

Dallas 103, Boston 94 -- Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points and nine rebounds, Devin Harris added 19 points and the Mavericks stretched their winning streak to five games at Dallas. Paul Pierce led Boston with 28 points.

Philadelphia 107, New Jersey 95 -- NBA scoring leader Allen Iverson had 42 points and 12 assists and Kyle Korver added 25 points on 10 of 11 shooting in the 76ers’ victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

Toronto 111, Charlotte 103 -- Chris Bosh had 30 points and the Raptors handed the Bobcats their seventh consecutive loss at Charlotte, N.C.

Indiana 80, Memphis 66 -- Jermaine O’Neal had 20 points and Stephen Jackson added 16 in the Pacers’ victory at Indianapolis.

Orlando 94, Denver 83 -- DeShawn Stevenson scored 18 points, Dwight Howard had 17 points and 14 rebounds and the Magic beat the Nuggets for the 13th consecutive time at Orlando. Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 23 points.

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Forward Ron Artest was inactive for Indiana’s game against Memphis, the second consecutive game he has missed because of a sore right wrist. Artest was hurt in a Thanksgiving night victory over Cleveland. Pacer guard Jamaal Tinsley also was inactive for the fifth consecutive game because of a strained left quadriceps.... Seattle forward Danny Fortson was suspended by the NBA for Saturday’s game against Sacramento for verbally abusing an official and not leaving the court in a timely manner after an ejection in the fourth quarter of Friday’s 106-91 victory over Utah.