CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 26 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, and Kyrie Irving had 21 points and matched his career high with 12 assists in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 119-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
Kevin Love had 27 points and a season-high 17 rebounds as all three of the Cavs’ stars returned with big games after coach Tyronn Lue rested them in Cleveland’s previous game on Wednesday. Irving took a week off because he complained to Lue he had tired legs in last Saturday’s win over Charlotte.
The Lakers snapped an eight-game losing skid Friday at Philadelphia, but they’ve been known to give the league’s elite fits. They smashed the Golden State Warriors by 20 earlier this season, the second straight season they’ve beaten their in-state rivals.
Thunder 114, Suns 101
OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook collected his 13th triple-double of the season to lead Oklahoma City to a victory over Phoenix at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Just days after saying he was tired of hearing about triple-doubles, Westbrook poured in 26 points, 11 rebounds and 22 assists, which is a career high. It’s only the fifth time since 1983 that a player had a triple double and reach at least 20 points and 20 assists.
Thunder center Steven Adams added 19 points and six rebounds while Enes Kanter came off the bench to score 12 points as Oklahoma City broke a two game losing streak and raised its record to 16-11.
Hornets 107, Hawks 99
ATLANTA — Marvin Williams matched his season high with 19 points, including the game-clinching 3-pointer with 27.8 seconds left that lifted Charlotte to a win over Atlanta and end its four-game losing streak.
Atlanta twice erased a double-digit lead in the second half and led 95-94 with 3:50 remaining. But the Hornets regained the lead on Marco Belinelli’s third 3-pointer of the fourth quarter and Atlanta could never get closer than two points.
Williams, who played with Atlanta from 2005-2012, shot 7-for-10 from the field and added six rebounds. Belinelli shot 8-for-11 to finish with 19.
Pacers 105, Pistons 90
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Paul George had 26 points and the Indiana Pacers took control late in the first half and rolled to a win over Detroit at The Palace.
George also grabbed seven rebounds, while Pacers point guard Jeff Teague supplied 19 points, a career-high-tying nine rebounds and seven assists. Backcourt partner Glenn Robinson III recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Thaddeus Young added 12 points and Miles Turner and C.J.Miles chipped in 10 apiece for Indiana, which salvaged the finale of a three-game road trip.
Rockets 111, Timberwolves 109 (OT)
MINNEAPOLIS — James Harden and Ryan Anderson came together and the two agreed that Houston wasn’t going to lose in Minnesota.
The timing just happened to be in the final minutes when Houston was down by double digits.
The confidence among the hot-shooting Rockets is immense.
Harden scored 10 of his 28 points in overtime and Houston won its 10th straight game, defeating Minnesota.
Nuggets 127, Knicks 114
DENVER — Kenneth Faried had a season-high 25 points and three blocked shots, Emmanuel Mudiay scored 22, and Denver beat New York.
Will Barton had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Nuggets, who had seven players score in double figures.
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 29 points in his return to Denver. Anthony, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 draft, played his first seven-and-a-half seasons with the Nuggets before being dealt to New York in February 2011.