CLEVELAND, March 15, (AP): LeBron James scored 30 points, including 24 in the second half, as Cleveland wore down the aging Boston Celtics for a 104-93 victory on Sunday, the Cavaliers’ second decisive win over one of the East’s premier teams in less than a month.
The Cavaliers were closer to full strength with the return of forward Antawn Jamison, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds after missing one game with a sore knee.
Ray Allen scored 20, while Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett had 18 apiece for the Celtics.
Bobcats 96, Magic 89
At Orlando, Stephen Jackson scored 28 points and Raymond Felton had 16 as Charlotte held on for its sixth straight victory.
Stephen Graham added 12 points to help the Bobcats pull away with a late 12-3 run for their first win in four chances this season against the Southeast Division leader. And they did it without All-Star Gerald Wallace, out with an injured left ankle.
Dwight Howard had 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Vince Carter finished with 23 points for the Magic, who had their eight-game winning streak stopped.
Thunder 119, Jazz 111
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 35 points, while Russell Westbrook added 30 points and 11 assists as Oklahoma City made up ground in the race for home-court advantage in the playoffs with a victory over short-handed Utah.
The Thunder shot a season-best 60 percent and never trailed while moving within a half-game of fourth-place Utah in the Western Conference.
Bucks 98, Pacers 94
At Milwaukee, Jerry Stackhouse equaled his season high with 20 points as Milwaukee survived a late rally from short-handed Indiana to win its sixth straight.
Andrew Bogut added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and John Salmons had 12 points for the Bucks, who have won 12 of their last 13.
Danny Granger scored 14 of his 29 points in the third quarter but missed a potential game-tying basket with just seconds remaining as the Pacers were swept in the season series.
Heat 104, 76ers 91
At Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 38 points to help Miami beat Philadelphia.
With Wade resting on the bench and center Jermaine O’Neal out after being ejected, the Heat went on a 14-3 run to start the final period. James Jones sank a pair of 3-pointers during the spurt, and Jamaal Magloire’s running dunk punctuated it to give Miami a 16-point lead.
Suns 120, Hornets 106
At Phoenix, Steve Nash had 13 points and 12 assists in his 1,000th NBA game and Amare Stoudemire had a dominant 36-point, 12-rebound performance as Phoenix beat injury-depleted New Orleans.
Stoudemire, playing just 32 minutes, topped 30 points for the fourth time in five games. The exception was a 29-point effort against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Trail Blazers 109, Raptors 98
At Portland, Nicolas Batum scored 22 points, making five of six 3-point attempts, as Portland won its fourth straight.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers, who have won nine of 11. Brandon Roy had 20 points.
Chris Bosh had 28 points and seven rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost five straight, matching a season high.
Kings 114, Timberwolves 100
At Sacramento, Tyreke Evans had 29 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead Sacramento over Minnesota, which has lost nine straight.
Donte Greene had 19 points and eight rebounds, helping the Kings avoid their fifth loss in six games. Jason Thompson had 15 points and eight rebounds, Carl Landry scored 13 points and Andres Nocioni had 12.
Al Jefferson had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who played without leading rebounder Kevin Love for the second consecutive game.