LOS ANGELES — LeBron James scored 27 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Los Angeles Clippers 114-90 Sunday at Staples Center.
J.R. Smith, who hit five 3-pointers, and Kyrie Irvine added 17 points apiece for the Cavaliers, who won their third straight and earned a sixth win in seven games.
Cleveland’s Channing Frye contributed 15 points, all coming via 3-pointers, and Kevin Love chipped in 12 points, all in the first half, and nine rebounds. Tristan Thompson had 10 points and 11 boards. James, who also had six rebounds and five assists, passed Kevin Johnson for 19th place on the NBA’s all-time assists list.
J.J. Redick had 19 points to pace the Clippers, who lost for the third time in five games. Chris Paul collected 17 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, while DeAndre Jordan finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Hawks 104, Pacers 75
ATLANTA — The Hawks closed the third quarter on a 30-5 run to make the game a rout, and Atlanta rolled to its 16th win in the past 17 regular-season home games against Indiana.
Paul Millsap scored 12 of his 18 points in the third-quarter blitz and added nine rebounds for the Hawks. Al Horford also had 18 points, 16 coming in the first half.
Paul George, averaging 23.6 points per game for Indiana, was held to seven points on 3-for-15 shooting, and the Pacers made just five of 24 3-point attempts in their most lopsided loss of the season. Myles Turner led the Pacers with 19 points.
Jazz 108, Kings 99
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Derrick Favors had 28 points and 14 rebounds, Gordon Hayward added 27 points and Utah defeated Sacramento.
The Jazz won their second straight and moved to within two games of Dallas and Houston, who are tied for the last two Western Conference playoff spots.
Kings center DeMarcus Cousins scored 31 points, returning to the starting lineup after serving a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. He added 10 rebounds and five assists.