NBALeBron James scored 31 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away from the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter for a 106-95 victory in the NBA on Friday.
James scored 13 points in the final period, including a trio of three-point plays.
He also wowed the crowd with a couple of flying blocks on back-to-back possessions to ruin any hope of a comeback for the Hawks.
PHOTO: AFP
James, criticized after the teams' first meeting this season for walking toward the locker room in the final seconds while Atlanta dribbled out the clock, also had eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
Joe Johnson scored 31 points for Atlanta, which fell behind by 10 points before the game was 3 minutes old and never led.
Nuggets 106, Timberwolves 92
At Minneapolis, Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points, Eduardo Najera outworked Minnesota's post players for a double-double, and Denver beat the Timberwolves.
Najera had 14 points and 11 rebounds and all five starters scored in double figures for the Nuggets, who have won nine of the last 11 games after starting the season 0-3. Anthony has scored at least 30 points in 11 of the last 12 games.
Wizards 121, Bobcats 109
At Washington, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison each scored more than 20 points in a free-flowing game as Washington beat Charlotte.
Arenas made sure to get his teammates involved early, compiling six assists before he made a field goal and finished with 33 points and 10 assists.
Butler scored 24 points and Jamison added 22 as Washington improved to 6-2 at home although it has gone 0-7 on the road.
Raptors 106, Celtics 102
At Toronto, Chris Bosh had 25 points and 11 rebounds as Toronto improved to 5-2 at home.
T.J. Ford had 13 assists and 10 points for the Raptors, who are only 1-8 on the road.
Toronto shot 55 percent to Boston's 52 percent in a game that was close throughout. Paul Pierce had 19 points and nine assists for the Celtics, who have lost four of five.
Mavericks 109, Kings 90
At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki's aim was off in his first game back from suffering blurred vision, yet he was the only Dallas player misfiring as the Mavericks extended their winning streak to 12.
The Mavericks haven't lost since starting the season 0-4. The surge is the third-best in club history -- two shy of matching the franchise record -- and has taken them to the top of the Southwest Division.
Pistons 108, Knicks 100
At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Tayshaun Prince matched his career high with 31 points, Chauncey Billups added 22 points and 16 assists and Detroit won its eighth straight.
The Pistons haven't lost since a 100-99 home defeat to New Orleans dropped them to 3-5 on Nov. 15. New York has lost six of seven.
Bulls 111, Hornets 108
At Oklahoma City, Andres Nocioni scored a career-high 31 points, including two late free throws, and Chicago held off a series of comebacks for its third straight victory.
Luol Deng added 21 points while Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon each scored 17. Nocioni also had 13 rebounds.
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