LeBron James scored 30 points, including 24 in the second half, as Cleveland wore down the aging Boston Celtics for a 104-93 victory on Sunday, the Cavaliers’ second decisive win over one of the East’s premier teams in less than a month.
The Cavaliers were closer to full strength with the return of forward Antawn Jamison, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds after missing one game with a sore knee.
Ray Allen scored 20, while Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett had 18 apiece for the Celtics.
BOBCATS 96, MAGIC 89
At Orlando, Stephen Jackson scored 28 points and Raymond Felton had 16 as Charlotte held on for its sixth-straight victory.
Stephen Graham added 12 points to help the Bobcats pull away with a late 12-3 run for their first win in four chances this season against the Southeast Division leader. And they did it without All-Star Gerald Wallace, out with an injured left ankle.
Dwight Howard had 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Vince Carter finished with 23 points for the Magic, who had their eight-game winning streak stopped.
THUNDER 119, JAZZ 111
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 35 points, while Russell Westbrook added 30 points and 11 assists as Oklahoma City made up ground in the race for home-court advantage in the playoffs with a victory over short-handed Utah.
The Thunder shot a season-best 60 percent and never trailed while moving within a half-game of fourth-place Utah in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City has won 17 of its last 20 games and will finish no worse than .500 after going 23-59 last season.
Wesley Matthews hit six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 29 points for the Jazz, who played without injured starters Mehmet Okur (back) and Andrei Kirilenko (calf).
BUCKS 98, PACERS 94
At Milwaukee, Jerry Stackhouse equaled his season high with 20 points as Milwaukee survived a late rally from short-handed Indiana to win its sixth straight.
Andrew Bogut added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and John Salmons had 12 points for the Bucks, who have won 12 of their last 13.
Danny Granger scored 14 of his 29 points in the third quarter but missed a potential game-tying basket with just seconds remaining as the Pacers were swept in the season series.
HEAT 104, 76ERS 91
At Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 38 points to help Miami beat Philadelphia.
With Wade resting on the bench and center Jermaine O’Neal out after being ejected, the Heat went on a 14-3 run to start the final period. James Jones sank a pair of three-pointers during the spurt, and Jamaal Magloire’s running dunk punctuated it to give Miami a 16-point lea
In other games it was:
• Suns 120, Hornets 106
• Trail Blazers 109, Raptors 98
• Kings 114, Timberwolves 100
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at