LeBron James came through with 24 points, a season-high 17 rebounds and some stunning dunks to help the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Utah Jazz 82-73 in the NBA on Saturday.
Carlos Boozer, in his first game back in Cleveland since he left nearly three years ago for more money in Utah, scored 19 points and had 14 rebounds, playing through a steady chorus of boos and derisive chants.
He clanked a pair of free throws off the rim with 27 seconds left and his team down 79-73, much to the delight of the heckling crowd.
PHOTO: AP
However, James, who was one assist shy of a triple-double, drew even more emotion from the crowd.
He broke the Cavaliers out of their first-half malaise with 10 straight points during a 12-0 run that put Cleveland up 65-56 early in the fourth quarter.
Wizards 125, Hornets 103
At Washington, Gilbert Arenas scored 30 points and Washington moved one-half game ahead of Miami atop the Southeast Division.
The Wizards shot a season-high 58 percent from the field. Arenas was 10-for-18 and had 11 assists. Antawn Jamison added 21 points for the Wizards.
New Orleans, trying to stay in contention for a playoff berth in the Western Conference, lost for the seventh time in eight games. Chris Paul, playing the second game of a back-to-back for the first time since he was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot, led the team with 21 points and eight assists in 32 minutes.
Pacers 113, Hawks 90
At Indianapolis, Troy Murphy scored 22 points and Mike Dunleavy added 21 to help Indiana snap its 11-game losing streak.
Danny Granger scored 19 points, Ike Diogu scored 15 and Jamaal Tinsley had 14 assists and no turnovers for Indiana.
Josh Smith had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks and Zaza Pachulia added 16 points for Atlanta.
The Pacers hadn't won since a home victory over Milwaukee on Feb. 21, but they put up their largest margin of victory since a 101-69 win over Portland on Feb. 8 last year.
The Pacers shot 53 percent from the field despite a subpar game from Jermaine O'Neal, their top scorer.
Kings 95, Magic 83
At Orlando, Florida, Kevin Martin scored 20 points, Ron Artest added 19 and Sacramento ended its five-game losing streak.
The Kings, trailing 62-50 with 4:47 left in the third period, went on a 17-2 run to end the quarter and ended the game on a 14-4 run.
Mike Bibby had 16 points and John Salmons 13 for Sacramento.
Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 23 points, but the rest of the starting five combined for 17 points.
Grizzlies 104, Bulls 103
At Memphis, Tennessee, Mike Miller scored 25 points and Hakim Warrick added 15, including the winning free throw with 4.3 seconds left for Memphis.
Luol Deng, who had 23 points for Chicago, missed an 2.6m hook-shot in the lane as time ran out.
Kirk Hinrich's 2.6m shot with 9.2 seconds left tied the game at 103, erasing a 99-92 Memphis lead with 2:04 left.
Pau Gasol added 21 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis. Miller grabbed 12 rebounds as the Grizzlies outrebounded the Bulls 50-41.
Ben Gordon led the Bulls with 33 points and Hinrich added 16.
Nuggets 131, Suns 107
At Denver, Allen Iverson had 44 points and 15 assists and Carmelo Anthony added 29 points in the duo's best performance since the trade that brought them together three months ago.
Iverson made 16-of-22 shots from the field and Anthony was 13-for-20.
The Suns have lost twice -- by a combined 46 points -- since their 129-127 double-overtime win at Dallas on Wednesday.
In other NBA action on Saturday it was: Celtics 91, Spurs 85; Bucks 97, Bobcats 91; Warriors 99, SuperSonics 98.
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