Knicks end eight-game skid with Heat victory
WASHINGTON: LeBron James scored 34 points and Kyrie Irving scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the injury-ravaged Washington Wizards 121-115 in the NBA on Wednesday for their fifth straight victory.
Irving scored 10 points in a row in the fourth quarter and showed no ill effects from the injury that ended his 2015 play-offs and postponed his season debut until mid-December.
James had 10 rebounds, and JR Smith added 25 points for Cleveland.
Garrett Temple scored 21 points and John Wall had 20 for the Wizards, who were playing without Kris Humphries, Deluan Blair and Drew Gooden.
In other games, New York beat Miami 98-90 to end a streak of eight consecutive losses to the Heat, Oklahoma City topped Memphis 112-94, Dallas defeated New Orleans 100-91 despite resting four starters, and San Antonio routed Utah 123-98 to match their best start in team history.
In Miami, Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points on nine of 12 shots to lead a hot-shooting Knicks team, who were 56 percent from the field.
In his first two games against the Heat this season, Anthony shot 10 for 29 and totalled 32 points.
Robin Lopez added a season-high 19 points for the Knicks, who won their third game in a row.
Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 26 points and a season-high 17 rebounds after missing the previous game with a sprained right big toe.
Durant broke loose for 17 points in the second half on seven-for-eight shooting. He played 33 minutes and appeared to have no problems with mobility.
Russell Westbrook added 20 points seven rebounds and seven assists for the Thunder.
In New Orleans, Raymond Felton scored 22 points to lead a short-handed Dallas squad who were without Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, Zaza Pachulia and Wesley Matthews after they each played 40-plus minutes a double-overtime vietory over Sacramento on Tuesday night.
San Antonio's Tim Duncan scored. a season-high 18 points to lead nine Spurs players in double figures in the win over Utah.
San Antonio (31-0) matched their best start in team history by winning their 21st straight home game to open the season.
In another game, Chris Paul had 21 points and 19 assists to spearhead the Los Angeles Clippers past Portland Trailblazers 109-98.AP