LOS ANGELES - LeBron James scored 34 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped their three-game losing streak with a battling 116-112 win over the Toronto Raptors Monday.
James led the scoring for the Cavs, who also saw Kevin Love pour on 28 points with 14 rebounds as the Raptors’ six-game winning streak came to an end.
The Cavs had looked to be easing to victory after opening up a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. But a determined Raptors fightback, which saw them move to within four with two seconds left, ensured the game went down to the wire after Kyle Lowry’s three free throws.
It was a third victory for the Cavaliers over the Raptors this season, a series in which three close-fought games have been settled by a total of 11 points.
James later paid tribute to the Cavs’ dogged pursuit of victory against a Raptors side who took his team to six games in last season’s Eastern Conference finals.
“It’s always a tough place to play,” James said. “Their fans are incredible and their team is very good and well-coached. It’s absolutely tough to get a win in here; and, for us to be able to do that twice already, it’s big for our team.”
The win saw the Cavaliers improve to 14-5 in the overall Eastern Conference race, ahead of Toronto (14-7) and Boston (12-9).
Warriors 142, Pacers 106: Klay Thompson exploded for 23 of his career-high 60 points in the second quarter, propelling the Golden State Warriors to a 142-106 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Thompson, whose previous career high had been 52 last season against the Sacramento Kings, hit 21 of his 33 shots and went 8-for-14 on 3-pointers.
The 60-point performance was the first of the NBA season, and first since Kobe Bryant poured in 60 in his career finale for the Los Angeles Lakers last April.
Grizzlies 110, Pelicans 108 (double OT): Marc Gasol hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime and then nailed a 17-foot fadeaway jumper over the outstretched arms of Anthony Davis to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 110-108 double-overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Gasol logged 46 minutes and recorded a triple-double - 28 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
It was the Grizzlies’ fourth overtime win of the season without a loss. They are 10-0 in games this season decided either in overtime or by five or fewer points.
Thunder 102, Hawks 99: Russell Westbrook had 32 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat Atlanta 102-99 to stretch their winning streak to six and extend the Hawks’ stretch of losses to seven.
It was the sixth consecutive triple-double by Westbrook and his 11th of the season in 22 games. The streak is the longest in the NBA since Michael Jordan did it over seven consecutive games in 1989.
Rockets 107, Celtics 106: James Harden matched a franchise record for free throws without a miss and the Houston Rockets held on for a 107-106 victory over the Boston Celtics.
Harden finished with a game-high 37 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding 18 free throws. He added seven rebounds and eight assists and nailed a 3-pointer with 54.8 seconds left that provided Houston (14-7) with the winning margin.
In other games it was: Spurs 97, Bucks 96; Trail Blazers 112, Bulls 110; Jazz 107, Lakers 101; Wizards 118, Nets 113; Hornets 109, Mavericks 101; Nuggets 106, 76ers 98.
