James' 51 points lead Cavs over Grizz, Sixers top Rockets

MEMPHIS, Tennessee: LeBron James scored a season-high 51 points, including 25 in the fourth quarter and overtime, to lead Cleveland to a 132-124 victory over Memphis in the NBA on Tuesday.

James made 18 of 28 shots and also had nine assists and eight rebounds as the Cavaliers handed Grizzlies their fifth straight loss. James' career high is 56 points, which he scored against Toronto in March 2005.

The teams were tied at 113 at the end of regulation, as James missed an attempted game-winner from 19 feet as time expired.

Cleveland shot 53 percent in winning its ninth game in the last 12.

In New York, the home side won consecutive games for only the third time this season by downing Washington 105-93.

Jamal Crawford scored 29 points for the Knicks, who will go for their first three-game winning streak of the season Wednesday at New Jersey.

The Knicks built a 22-point lead in the first half, then turned back every push by Washington, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Detroit bounced back from an embarrassing loss by beating Toronto 103-89. Richard Hamilton scored a season-high 39 points for the Pistons, who responded after scoring just 65 points in being beaten by last-placed New York in their previous game.

In Atlanta, the home team held off a late rally by Denver to win 104-93. Joe Johnson scored 22 points for the Hawks.

Denver trailed by 25 early in the third quarter but cut the lead to eight points with 1:50 left. But Allen Iverson and J.R. Smith were ejected with 38.9 seconds left.

In Orlando, Florida, Rashard Lewis scored 26 points to help Orlando rout Chicago 102-88.

Dwight Howard added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, which had lost five of the previous six games.

Chicago was outscored 32-10 in the decisive third period.

In Houston, Philadelphia rallied from 16 points down to beat Houston 111-107.

Andre Miller scored 26 points while Samuel Dalembert added 19 points and blocked a shot in the final seconds. The Sixers snapped a seven-game losing streak and a five-game road skid.

In Minneapolis, Baron Davis had 22 points, nine assists and a season-high five steals to lead Golden State past Minnesota 105-98.

Minnesota has lost three in a row. Losing comes in bunches for the struggling Wolves, who haven't halted a losing streak at fewer than five games this season.

In Los Angeles, the Clippers knocked Phoenix out of first place in the Western Conference, winning 97-90.

Sam Cassell broke out of a shooting slump in a big way, scoring 32 points. The 38-year-old Cassell, who was 7-for-31 in his previous four games, made 15 of 21 shots to help the Clippers snap a four-game losing streak.

Agencies

(China Daily 01/17/2008 page24)