LeBron James scored 27 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers got a measure of revenge with a 90-88 road victory over defending champions the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, their first meeting since last year's NBA finals.
"We have been playing great basketball the last month and a half," James told reporters after the Cavaliers' third straight win. "Everybody understands what we need to do to get wins and that's on the defensive end -- and we did that."
Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 17 points and Anderson Varejao had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavaliers.
PHOTO: AP
Manu Ginobili had 31 points for the Spurs, who swept the Cavaliers in four games for the NBA title last season, but missed a jumper from the free-throw line in the closing second that would have forced overtime.
Tony Parker contributed 23 points, but he too misfired, missing two free throws with 29 seconds to play that would have tied the score.
Tim Duncan added 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.
PHOTO: AP
James put the Cavaliers ahead to stay at 90-88 on a layup with 33 seconds to play.
Parker missed two free throws four seconds later and after James missed a three-point attempt with five seconds left, Ginobili grabbed the rebound and raced down court. But he missed a jumper from the free throw line to end the game.
San Antonio have now lost four games at home and dropped to 5-5 in their past 10 overall.
PHOTO: AP
Suns 106, Lakers 98
In Los Angeles, Phoenix won to leapfrog Los Angeles atop the Pacific Division and take the Western Conference lead.
Leandro Barbosa scored 22 points to lead the Suns, who won for the eighth time in 11 games to move a half-game ahead of the Lakers.
The Lakers had their seven-game winning streak snapped. Los Angeles lost for just the fourth time in their past 21 games.
The Suns shot 51.9 percent to 37.9 percent for the Lakers.
Nuggets 120, Jazz 109
In Denver, Linas Kleiza scored a career-high 41 points to lead Denver over Utah.
Allen Iverson added 28 for the Nuggets, who rebounded from successive losses.
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