Cavaliers’ James Is Too Much for Bulls

The Chicago Bulls tried almost everything to stop LeBron James.

But James shook off some desperation grab-and-hold tactics by Chicago’s Andres Nocioni to score 12 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, leading the host Cleveland Cavaliers to a 102-91 victory over the Bulls on Monday night.

“He believed he could guard me, I guess,” James said after surpassing 30 points for the 16th time this season and ninth in December.

“He believed his aggressiveness could make me do things that I don’t do. I just tried to use that aggressiveness against him. It’s a great battle. I like it.”

Drew Gooden scored 20 points and Larry Hughes had 19 for Cleveland, which improved to an Eastern Conference-best 12-3 at home and stretched its winning streak to six games. It was the Cavaliers’ second victory over Chicago in five days.

Chris Duhon, Tyson Chandler and Nocioni each scored 15 points for the Bulls, who have lost four in a row.

“We were feisty out there, but they just hit some tough shots to win,” Chandler said.

James was 12 for 25 from the field and had eight rebounds and six assists.

“I thought Luol [Deng] did a good job on him and Noce did a respectable job,” Chicago Coach Scott Skiles said. “Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if you’re really doing a good job on him or if he just isn’t kind of trying the way he wants to.”

James turned up the intensity in the fourth quarter after exchanging glares and occasional words with Nocioni. Both complained to officials that the other was guilty of fouling.

James is averaging 32.7 points in 12 games in December, helping the Cavaliers (17-9) move to a season-high eight games above .500.

“We’re very confident right now,” James said. “We’re winning games, playing good defense and executing on offense.”

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Dallas 102, Indiana 80 -- Devin Harris scored 20 points, including a 20-foot basket that he intended to be a pass, and the host Mavericks (21-7) tied San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference.

Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points for Dallas, which grabbed 14 of the first 18 rebounds and took 11 of the first 12 free throws.

Dallas’ Erick Dampier tied his season high with 14 rebounds and the Mavericks out-rebounded the Pacers, 49-30.

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New Jersey 109, New York 101 -- Vince Carter scored 27 points and Richard Jefferson had 23 at New York to lead the Nets to their sixth consecutive victory.

Carter is averaging 34 points during the winning streak, New Jersey’s longest since a franchise-record 14 in a row in 2004.

Reserve Nate Robinson scored 21 points for the Knicks, and Stephon Marbury also had 21.

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Utah 105, Memphis 102 -- Andrei Kirilenko scored a season-high 24 points and made two key defensive plays in the final moments, lifting the Jazz in overtime at Salt Lake City.

Keith McLeod had a career-high 22 points, including the last two of the game on free throws with 3.5 seconds.

With the Jazz clinging to a 102-101 lead, Kirilenko blocked Pau Gasol’s layup and was fouled. He made one free throw and, 10 seconds later, stole the ball and dribbled out the clock.

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Phoenix 103, Minnesota 89 -- Boris Diaw had a career-high 31 points, 11 rebounds and five assists at Minneapolis to spark the Suns, who had lost five of their previous seven games.

Steve Nash made it difficult on Minnesota’s point guards, scoring 24 points and getting 12 assists.

Kevin Garnett (26 points and 19 rebounds) and Wally Szczerbiak (27 points) helped the Timberwolves cut the deficit to 80-77 early in the fourth quarter.

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Orlando 108, Milwaukee 93 -- Steve Francis scored 21 points and Grant Hill had 20 for the host Magic, which ended a four-game skid.

The Magic had lost six of seven to the Bucks, who had won two in a row overall and nine of their last 12. The 108 points were a season high for Orlando, which had been averaging 87.7 points.

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Portland 105, Sacramento 92 -- Zach Randolph had 22 points, Juan Dixon had 21 and the Trail Blazers sent the host Kings to their fifth consecutive defeat.

Peja Stojakovic returned from a back injury to score 19 points, but the Kings lost for the 10th time in 13 games.

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Seattle 118, Boston 111 -- The SuperSonics overcame Paul Pierce’s 43 points to win at home for only the second time in their last seven games.

Ronald Murray scored a season-high 29 points, two short of his career best, for Seattle. He made eight of 10 shots in the second half.

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Denver 118, Golden State 112 -- Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points at Oakland, and the Nuggets ended a three-game road losing streak.

Marcus Camby of the Nuggets had 18 points and 15 rebounds for his 19th double-double.

Jason Richardson had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors, who dropped their fourth in a row at home and fifth in a row overall.