CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 34 points, including the first eight in the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-98 on Sunday for their sixth-straight win.
James made a pair of three-pointers and a nasty fade-away jumper to give the Cavs a 91-80 lead. Later, the four-time MVP fed Kevin Love for a three-pointer with 3:38 left that put the Thunder away. The Cavs are 6-1 since James returned after missing eight games with a strained back and knee.
Love added 19 points and 13 rebounds, Kyrie Irving scored 21, and Tristan Thompson had 16 rebounds.
Kevin Durant scored 32 and Russell Westbrook had 22 for the Thunder, who went 3-2 on their longest road trip this season.
Heat 96, Bulls 84
CHICAGO -- Hassan Whiteside had an unconventional triple-double with a team-record and career-high 12 blocks to go with 14 points and 13 rebounds to help the Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls.
Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, Chris Bosh finished with 20 and Luol Deng scored 15 in his return to Chicago. Mario Chalmers had 15 points, and the Heat squashed whatever momentum the Bulls appeared to be building after beating San Antonio and Dallas.
Miami led by 10 at halftime, 12 going into the fourth quarter and remained in control the rest of the way.
Pau Gasol had 13 points and 17 rebounds for Chicago, giving him 50 over the past three games. Derrick Rose scored 19 for Chicago, but missed all six three-pointers.
Grizzlies 101, 76ers 83
MEMPHIS -- Zach Randolph had 17 points and 14 rebounds and Jeff Green scored 18 as the Memphis Grizzlies coasted against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
Vince Carter added 13 points as the Grizzlies (31-12) won their sixth in the last seven games.
Memphis led by as many as 25 in the second half, allowing coach Dave Joerger to rest his starters in the fourth quarter. Marc Gasol, selected as an All-Star starter, finished with nine points, as did point guard Mike Conley.
Rookie Jerami Grant led the Sixers (8-36) with a career-high 16 points, while Michael Carter-Williams was the only other Philadelphia player in double figures with 10 points, going 3 of 12 from the field.
Blazers 103, Wizards 96
PORTLAND, Ore. -- LaMarcus Aldridge returned to the Trail Blazers two days after saying he was going to have thumb surgery and had 26 points and nine rebounds in a victory over the Washington Wizards.
Damian Lillard added 20 points and seven assists as the Blazers snapped a two-game losing streak.
Tied at 79 midway through the fourth quarter, Wesley Matthews made two three-pointers that gave Portland an 87-85 with 3:28 left. Lillard's three extended the lead 92-85.
Nene's layup closed the Wizards to 94-91, but he missed a free throw then fouled Meyers Leonard on a 3-point attempt on the other end. Leonard made all three free throws to put Portland up 97-91 with 1:07 left and Washington couldn't catch up.
John Wall led the Wizards with 25 points and nine assists.
Aldridge had said he was expected to miss from six to eight weeks for ligament surgery. But just hours before the game, the Blazers announced on Twitter that the three-time All-Star would play.
Bucks 101, Pistons 86
MILWAUKEE --O.J. Mayo scored 20 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks relied on perimeter shooting and defense in the win.
The Bucks went 11 for 17 from three-point range, including a 4-for-5 performance from Mayo. The reserve guard made three threes in a 47-second span of the second quarter to spark an 18-2 run that gave Milwaukee a 54-40 lead with 4:27 left in the second quarter.
Milwaukee also opened the second half with a 17-2 run. The Bucks led by as much as 30 in the third quarter of a rare easy victory.
The Detroit Pistons' Brandon Jennings scored 16 points before leaving late in the third with a lower left leg injury.
Hornets 76, Knicks 71
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Brian Roberts scored 17 points, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the New York Knicks for their ninth victory in the last 11 games.
Roberts, who started in place of the injured Kemba Walker, was five of nine from the field and made all six free throws as the Hornets snapped the Knicks' three-game win streak.
The Knicks played without Carmelo Anthony, who was held out to rest his knee on the second night of a back-to-back.
Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Knicks with 25 points and Lance Thomas had 16 points and eight rebounds.
Jazz 108, Nets 73
SALT LAKE CITY -- Gordon Hayward scored 24 points and Trey Burke had 19 as the Utah Jazz rolled over the reeling Brooklyn Nets.
Joe Ingles had a season-high 16 points and Danté Exum had 13 in his second straight start in front of Burke, who came off the bench.
Jarrett Jack had 16 points and Mason Plumlee added 11 for the Nets, who have dropped three of four.
Sports on 01/26/2015