James’ 44 Takes Care of the Spurs’ Streaks

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers play like title contenders at home against the NBA’s best.

Monday night was the perfect example.

James dominated with 44 points and Cleveland defeated defending champion San Antonio, 101-87, to end the visiting Spurs’ nine-game winning streak.

Now, if the Cavaliers could just be as good against mediocre teams.

Cleveland is 14-2 at home against teams over .500, and 5-5 against teams under .500. The win over the Spurs came two days after a home loss to Golden State.

“We have to grow up,” James said. “We can’t keep beating Phoenix, Detroit and San Antonio and then lose to sub-par teams.”

James made 19 of 33 shots and added five assists, three rebounds and four steals. He scored 18 in the third quarter, tying his career high for points in a period, and had 36 through three quarters.

The win ended a two-game slide for the Cavaliers and stopped another streak for the Spurs -- a franchise-record nine straight road victories.

San Antonio’s Tim Duncan scored only three of his team-leading 19 points in the second half.

New Orleans 97, Washington 96 -- David West made a 20-footer from the top of the key at the buzzer at Oklahoma City to give the Hornets their fourth straight victory and end the Wizards’ five-game winning streak.

West, who finished with 20 points, took an inbounds pass from Desmond Mason with five-tenths of a second left before his game-winner. Antawn Jamison had put Washington ahead, 96-95, on a 20-foot jumper.

Gilbert Arenas scored 43 for the Wizards.

Toronto 98, Minnesota 94 -- Mike James scored 27 points, including two key baskets and two free throws in the final three minutes, to help the visiting Raptors win their third in a row.

Toronto made 11 of 17 three-point attempts.

Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 19 rebounds for Minnesota, which lost its fourth straight and fell seven games below .500 for the first time since the 1996-97 season. All four losses have come at home.

Dallas 100, New York 72 -- Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points to lead six Mavericks in double figures at Dallas to hand the Knicks their first 10-game losing streak since ending the 1984-85 season with a franchise-record 12 straight losses.

The 72 points were a season-low for the Knicks, who last month had the most points scored against Dallas this season in a 117-115 overtime victory. The last loss for Dallas before its 13-game winning streak ended Friday at Denver -- one short of a franchise record -- was that loss at New York on Jan. 11. The Knicks have won only once since then.

Memphis 81, Golden State 79 -- Pau Gasol made a short spinning jumper as time expired to lift the Grizzlies at Oakland.

Golden State’s Derek Fisher had tied it on a layup with three seconds left.

Gasol had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Fisher scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half for the Warriors, who dropped to 5-11 in their last 16 home games.

Portland 91, Charlotte 83 -- Zach Randolph had 21 points and nine rebounds at Charlotte, N.C., to help the Trail Blazers end a four-game losing streak in a matchup of the last-place teams in each conference.

Darius Miles, playing in his first game since spraining his left knee Dec. 4, scored 14 for Portland. After missing one game because of a leg injury, Raymond Felton led Charlotte with 16 points.