NBA roundup: Tuesday's action on the boards

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers kept their winning streak going against another overmatched opponent on Tuesday night.

James scored 32 points to lead the Cavaliers to their 12th straight win, a 104-97 victory over the New Jersey Nets. The win gives Cleveland the longest winning streak in the NBA this season, and at 42-11, the Cavaliers also have the best record in the league.

"It's impressive no matter what league you're in, no matter who you're playing against," James said. "To have a 12-game winning streak against the best competition in the world is impressive."

Besides their winning streak, the Cavaliers are a league-best 23-3 at home, winning 10 straight and 21 of 22.

James, who was named the Eastern Conference's player of the week for the fifth time this season Monday, was 13-of-21 from the field with 11 assists and three rebounds.

"He's an amazing player and keeps getting better and better," New Jersey coach Kiki Vandeweghe said.

"There aren't accolades to describe his game."

Elsewhere in the NBA it was: Charlotte 94 Washington 92; Philadelphia 117 Minnesota 97; Sacramento 118 New York 114 (OT); Detroit 93 Milwaukee 81; Miami 99 Houston 66; Chicago 109 Indiana 101; Atlanta 108 Memphis 94; Denver 127 Dallas 91; Utah 109 L.A. Clippers 99; and Oklahoma City 89 Portland 77.

At Cleveland, the Cavaliers' next game is Thursday when Orlando visits Quicken Loans Arena in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals, which the Magic won in six games.

While the Nets held the lead for most of the first quarter and were within four points late in the third period, New Jersey's miserable season continued. The Nets (4-47) have the NBA's worst record and have lost seven straight. New Jersey played without point guard Devin Harris, who has a sprained left shoulder. Courtney Lee led the Nets with 24 points.

Nets swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts, who averages 12.2 points, was benched Tuesday night. He left Saturday's game with back spasms, but Vandeweghe said he wanted to look at other players.

Douglas-Roberts, who has expressed displeasure with his role, showed up expecting to play.

"You get surprised a lot in the league. It is what it is," Douglas-Roberts said. "Things don't work out all the time. I guess I'm out of the rotation."

Douglas-Roberts doesn't plan on complaining to Vandeweghe.

"Absolutely not. I don't think talks really do anything," Douglas-Roberts said. "I've probably had the most talks with him on the team. But they don't do nothing."

Even James is puzzled about the Nets' woes.

"They have a lot of talent," he said. "I think Brook Lopez one day will be an all-star. Devin Harris one day could be an all-star. They have good talent. I don't see why they are where they are at this point in the season."

Jawad Willams scored a career-high 17 points while Anderson Varejao added 15 for Cleveland.

The Nets built an eight-point lead in the first quarter thanks primarily to 11 points by Jarvis Hayes, who hit three three-pointers. Cleveland scored the last seven points of the quarter and went ahead for good early in the second period.

The Cavaliers' spurt was capped when with a highlight reel play at both ends of the court. It began when Shaquille O'Neal blocked Lopez's shot at the basket. The seven-foot-one, 325-pound centre grabbed the ball and dribbled up the floor before finding James on the wing. James made a perfect alley-oop pass to Varejao, who finished the play with a dunk, bringing the crowd to its feet. O'Neal then gave Varejao a resounding chest bump and the Nets called timeout.

"It was good. It surprised all of us," James said. "He doesn't dunk the ball a lot and he doesn't catch lobs at all. For him to go up there and catch it was surprising and definitely a momentum builder at that point."

Bobcats 94 Wizards 92

At Charlotte, N.C., Raymond Felton hit a fadeaway 12-footer with 1.9 seconds left to lift Charlotte past Washington, snapping a three-game losing streak.

After Antawn Jamison missed a scoop shot in the lane, the Bobcats got the rebound and didn't call a timeout. Charlotte's play broke down, and Felton drove to the left of the lane and let go a shot over Randy Foye's outstretched arms that swished through.

Stephen Jackson scored 22 points for Charlotte. Caron Butler had 23 for the Wizards.

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76ers 119 Timberwolves 97

At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 24 points, Elton Brand added 21, and the 76ers reserves performed well in a win over Minnesota.

The 76ers were once again missing guard Allen Iverson, who has been out the past four games to tend to his ill daughter.

The reserves came through for Philadelphia as Lou Williams (16 points), Thaddeus Young (15), Royal Ivey (9) and Jason Smith (9) helped the team win its fifth straight.

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Kings 118 Knicks 114 (OT)

At New York, Tyreke Evans led a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback, Kevin Martin scored nine of his 17 points in overtime, and Sacramento ended a six-game losing streak.

Evans finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, scoring 12 points in the final seven minutes of regulation after the Knicks had built a 15-point lead.

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Pistons 93 Bucks 81

At Milwaukee, Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon scored 18 points each to lead Detroit, which had lost six of its previous eight.

Leading 64-62 going into the fourth, the Bucks tied it twice before Jason Maxiell's short jumper ignited a 16-6 run that turned the game decisively in the Pistons' favour.

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Heat 99 Rockets 66

At Miami, Dwyane Wade had 17 points and seven assists before sitting out the fourth quarter as the Heat raced to their largest halftime lead of the season en route to snapping a five-game losing streak.

The Heat shot 13-for-15 during a 9 1/2-minute stretch in the first half and led 56-31 at halftime. Wade was also on the bench for a breather to start the second quarter when the Heat outscored Houston 17-4 to go up 41-20.

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Bulls 109 Pacers 101

At Indianapolis, Luol Deng had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Derrick Rose and John Salmons each scored 21 to lead Chicago.

Kirk Hinrich scored 17 points, and Brad Miller added 13 for the Bulls, who lost three of their previous four.

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Hawks 108 Grizzlies 94

At Memphis, Tenn., Jamal Crawford scored 28 points, including fourth three-pointers in the fourth quarter, to help Atlanta pull away.

Crawford scored 14 points in the final period, and was 5-of-7 from three-point range in the game.

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Nuggets 127 Mavericks 91

At Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points in his return from an ankle injury and the Nuggets had their biggest win of the season, routing the Mavericks.

Anthony, the NBA's second-leading scorer, returned after missing eight consecutive games with a left ankle sprain. However, the Nuggets were without Kenyon Martin, who missed the game because of tendinitis in his left knee.

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Jazz 109 Clippers 99

At Los Angeles, Carlos Boozer had 34 points and 14 rebounds and the Jazz beat the Clippers for their ninth straight victory.

Boozer, in his second game back after missing the previous three because of a right calf strain, was 13 for 17 from the field to help the Jazz win for the 13th time in their last 14 games. First-time all-star Deron Williams added 13 points and 11 assists.

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Thunder 89 Trail Blazers 77

At Portland, Ore., Kevin Durant had 33 points and 11 rebounds to help Oklahoma City extend its season-high winning streak to six games with a victory over the Trail Blazers.

It's the 25th straight game that Durant has scored 25 or more points - the longest streak since Allen Iverson did it in 27 consecutive games during the 2000-01 season.