While the Cavaliers were beating Boston in a matchup of East powers, the Orlando Magic were busy showing that the conference could well be a three-team race to the top.
LeBron James scored 38 points, harassed Paul Pierce all over the floor and strengthened his case to be the league’s MVP front-runner as the Cavaliers improved to 19-0 at home by beating the staggering Celtics 98-83 on Friday night.
Boston (29-9), which started the season a league-record 27-2, is just 2-7 since.
James scored 23 in the second half. He added seven rebounds, six assists, four steals, three blocks and made Pierce’s life miserable for 35 minutes.
“We want to continue to protect our home court and we want to continue to get better. Tonight I think we got better,” James said. “We don’t want to take a step back because we got a big picture and a big goal. You don’t want to waste a game.”
Oklahoma City 96; New Orleans 107, the Clippers 80.
After the Cavs (29-6) had built their lead to a comfortable 20 points over Boston in the second half, Cleveland fans began chanting “M-V-P!”
There was no debate this night on who was the best player – or which was the better team.
Despite Boston’s current form, the defending NBA champs and Cavaliers appear on a collision course in the Eastern Conference. But Orlando asserted itself with a rout of Atlanta.
The Magic put on a devastating offensive show, making 24 of 39 shots, including 10 of their 13 3-pointers in a 121-87 win that was essentially over at halftime.
Orlando led by 38 points on the way to its 11th straight home game and put on their best offensive performance of the year to overtake Boston for second-best record in the East.
“I don’t think anybody is too concerned with our record, we’re just trying to play healthy basketball,” Jameer Nelson said. “We have a good team, but we know we have to get better. We aren’t the best team we could be. We can still get better.”
Lakers 121, Pacers 119
In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant made a tiebreaking jumper with 3 seconds left and scored the Lakers’ last 11 points, helping them improve to 19-2 at home.
Bryant finished with 36 points and 13 assists. After his turnaround jumper, the Pacers took a timeout but were unable to get off a shot.
The Pacers’ Danny Granger scored 28 points before fouling out with 47 seconds remaining. Troy Murphy had 24 and Mike Dunleavy, whose 3-pointer with 27 seconds left drew the Pacers even at 119, finished with 22.
Pistons 93, Nuggets 90
Tayshaun Prince hit a running jumper with 20 seconds left, Aaron Afflalo hit six straight free throws and Detroit overcame 30 points by Chauncey Billups to get the win in Allen Iverson’s return to the Mile High city.
Iverson, in his first appearance in Denver since being traded to Detroit for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, led the Pistons with 23 points.
Heat 119, Kings 115, OT
In Sacramento, Calif., Dwyane Wade scored 10 of his 41 points in overtime for Miami.
Wade scored the final five points in overtime, made 11 of 26 shots and 18 of 24 free throws. He also had five rebounds and seven assists.
Kevin Martin and John Salmons each scored 29 points for the Kings, who had a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter but have now lost five straight and 11 of 12.
Suns 128, Mavericks 100
In Phoenix, Shaquille O’Neal had 25 points and 10 rebounds to help Phoenix bury Dallas.
Jason Richardson added 21 points and Leandro Barbosa had 20 in the Suns’ highest-scoring game of the season. Phoenix outscored the Mavs 40-19 in the third quarter.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 for Dallas, and Josh Howard had 16 before departing with a sprained left wrist in the third quarter. X-rays were negative.
Bucks 104, Nets 102
In Milwaukee, Luke Ridnour’s 5-foot floater with 0.5 seconds left lifted the Bucks to a victory over New Jersey in the first meeting between the teams since a draft day trade sent Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.
Simmons, who had 15 points, made a 3-pointer with 9 seconds left that tied it at 102.
Yi scored 16 points but left late in the third quarter after hurting his right hand.
Raptors 103, Grizzlies 82
In Toronto, Chris Bosh had 32 points and Andrea Bargnani added 21 points for the Raptors.
Bosh was 11-of-13 from the field and 10-of-12 from the line to help Toronto extend its home winning streak to a season-high three games. Bargnani is averaging 21.7 points as a starter in the past six games in place of the injured Jermaine O’Neal.
Rudy Gay scored 22 points for Memphis, which has lost 11 of 13.
76ers 93, Bobcats 87
At Philadelphia, Andre Miller scored 22 points, Thaddeus Young had 15 and the 76ers won their third straight game to escape last place in the Atlantic Division.
lwaukee, then used a 14-2 run in the third quarter Friday night to pull away from the Bobcats.
Emeka Okafor had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats.
Bulls 98, Wizards 86
At Chicago, Ben Gordon scored 22 points and Chicago hung on after watching a 21-point lead dwindle to seven in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls led 78-57 early in the fourth before Washington made its move. The Wizards were within 89-82 after Antawn Jamison’s layup with just under 3 minutes left, but Gordon answered with one of his own and the Bulls hung on.
The Wizards lost despite getting a career-high 28 points from Nick Young.
Rockets 98, Thunder 96
At Oklahoma City, Tracy McGrady scored 26 points and made two critical free throws with 8.2 seconds left to help Houston win its second straight road game.
McGrady, who had missed two of the Rockets’ previous three games with a left knee injury, helped extend Houston’s winning streak over the Thunder franchise to 10 straight games.
The Rockets overcame a quiet night from Yao Ming, who scored 14 points.
Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 27 points.
Hornets 107, Clippers 80
In New Orleans, Rasual Butler scored a season-high 27 points to help hand the Clippers their 10th straight loss.
Butler hit six 3s, also a season high, as the Hornets made 11 total and had seven players score in double figures.
Eric Gordon and Mardy Collins each scored 15 points for the Clippers, who have lost their last eight meetings with New Orleans. Marcus Camby had 13 points and 17 rebounds.
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