SPORTS> North America
James leads Cavaliers to ninth win in a row
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-10 16:17

NEW YORK - LeBron James scored 31 points to lead the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-94 win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, their ninth successive victory.


Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Ohio, December 9, 2008.[Agencies] 

The Cavaliers have won every game in the run by at least 12 points, becoming the first NBA team to win nine in a row so easily.

"It's unbelievable for our franchise to accomplish something like that," James told reporters. "Knowing the history of some of the great teams, the Chicago Bulls team that went 72-10, the Celtics teams, the Lakers teams and the Pistons teams. To be in that company is unbelievable for us."

Cleveland is now 17-1 since November 3 and has the third best overall winning percentage in the NBA at 18-3.

"We're on a pretty good roll right now and we just want to keep it going as long as we can," James said.

It was a record-setting night for James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

James made three steals to pass Mark Price (734) for the franchise record, adding five rebounds and four assists.

Ilgauskas had 13 points and six rebounds to move ahead of Brad Daugherty (5,227) as Cleveland's career rebound leader.

"It's been a long road," said Ilgauskas. "I cherish it. When I'm done playing it'll be one of the top moments I remember."

Toronto (8-12) lost its fifth straight game and third in a row under interim coach Jay Triano.

"The Cavaliers are just running teams off the court right now," Triano said. "We were just another one of them.

"We have to figure some things out, but we played a great basketball team tonight."