Cavaliers remain NBA’s hottest team with 8th straight win
CLEVELAND (AP) – LeBron James scored 36 points for the second game in a row, Larry Hughes added 25 and the Cleveland Cavaliers stayed the NBA’s hottest team with their eighth straight win, 115-93 over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. The Cavaliers (9-2) improved to 6-0 at home, where they are winning by an average of 21 points per game.
Cleveland last won eight straight games in 1997 when James was in middle school, long before he became an Akron high school legend and eventual superstar.
Drew Gooden added 13 points and 15 rebounds – his fifth double-double – and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 19 points for the Cavaliers, whose closest game at home was a 15-point win over Washington on Nov. 15.
Nuggets 108, Wizards 105
WASHINGTON – Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby both had double-doubles, Earl Boykins scored half of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, and Denver beat Washington for its fourth consecutive victory.
Camby had 24 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, including one on Gilbert Arenas’ 3-point attempt just before the buzzer. Anthony had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and his 18-for-22 free-throw shooting set career highs for makes and attempts.
Arenas led the way with 36 points and 10 assists for the Wizards (5-5), who lost their fourth straight game to fall to .500 for the first time this season.
Washington’s other All-Star, Antawn Jamison, had 26 points and 12 rebounds.
T’blazers 95, Grizzlies 87
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Zach Randolph had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Darius Miles added 22 points, and Portland beat Memphis to snap a two-game losing streak.
Miles keyed an early burst in the fourth period with three baskets as Portland built a 75-65 lead. The Trail Blazers maintained at least a six-point advantage the rest of the way.
Reserve Juan Dixon scored 20 points, including nine straight in the final minute, while Travis Outlaw finished with 10 points and shot 4-of-6 from the field.
Shane Battier led Memphis with 21 points and reserve Mike Miller had 20. Pau Gasol scored 18 points and grabbed 16 points for Memphis, which has lost two straight.