James scores 31 for Cavaliers, Thunder making early noise
By The Associated Press
Nov 18, 2009 - 10:13:10 CST
CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James had 31 points and 12 assists, J.J. Hickson added a career-high 21 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off a gutsy effort by the short-handed Golden State Warriors, winning 114-108 on Tuesday night.
Injuries and illness left Golden State with seven healthy bodies, although the Cavaliers had their own injury concerns.
Jamario Moon left in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle, and Shaquille O’Neal and Anderson Varejao were both inactive for Cleveland. Varejao was scratched with a hip contusion and O’Neal missed his second straight game with a strained shoulder.
Monta Ellis led the Warriors with 23 points and reserve Corey Maggette had 19.
Golden State dressed the league minimum eight players, including Raja Bell, who didn’t play because of a wrist injury that will require surgery next week. Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic were acquired from Charlotte on Monday for Stephen Jackson and Acie Law.
Radmanovic played 34 minutes, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds.
Nuggets 130, Raptors 112
DENVER (AP) — Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points and reserve J.R. Smith finished with 29 for the Nuggets.
Anthony is the only player in the NBA to score at least 20 points in all of his team’s games so far. He’s topped 30 points seven times and 40 points twice. He sat out the final quarter of this one after putting in 30 efficient minutes.
After withstanding Smith’s seven-game suspension and a six-game trip consisting of three back-to-backs, the Nuggets weathered a very determined Raptors team that was without forward Hedo Turkoglu (left hip) but didn’t trail until midway through the third quarter.
Chris Bosh led Toronto with 13 points and 14 rebounds and DeMar DeRozan scored 17. Nene had 20 points and 10 boards for Denver, which shot 62 percent.
Thunder 100, Heat 87
MIAMI (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Russell Westbrook had 24 and Oklahoma City added to its surprising start with the victory.
An early 20-1 run put the Thunder in control, and a 14-2 burst in the third quarter helped seal it for Oklahoma City. Jeff Green added 13 for the Thunder, who’ve won three straight on the road.
Dwyane Wade finished with 22 points on 6 of 19 shooting and Daequan Cook scored 14 of his 17 in the fourth quarter for Miami. Jermaine O’Neal had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who visit Atlanta Wednesday for the first time since the Hawks beat Miami in Game 7 of last season’s Eastern Conference opening-round series.
The Thunder got off to a 6-32 start last year. This season, they’re 6-5.
Suns 111, Rockets 105
HOUSTON (AP) — Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points, Steve Nash had 16 assists and Phoenix recovered from a slow start to get the win.
Jason Richardson scored 20 points for the Suns, who have won eight of their last 11 games against the Rockets in Houston.
Carl Landry scored a career-high 27 points off the bench and Aaron Brooks had a career-best 13 assists for the Rockets.
The Suns (10-2) rallied from a double-digit deficit to win for the fifth time this season. They’re the only team to reach 100 points in all of their games so far.
Pacers 91, Nets 83
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Danny Granger scored 22 points, Roy Hibbert tied a career high with 19 and Indiana dropped New Jersey to 0-11.
Dahntay Jones added 17 points for the Pacers, who extended their winning streak to five and can continue their turnaround from an 0-3 start Wednesday when they host another struggling team, the New York Knicks.
Chris Douglas-Roberts scored a career-high 27 points and Brook Lopez added 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Nets, who head to Milwaukee on Wednesday, still a long way from the record 17-game opening skids owned by the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers.
Hornets 110, Clippers 102
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — David West had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeff Bower picked up his first coaching win in the Hornets’ victory.
With Chris Paul out, point guards Darren Collison and Bobby Brown scored 12 apiece and combined for 11 assists as New Orleans snapped a three-game losing streak. Devin Brown had 16 points.
Al Thornton scored 30 points and former Hornets guard Baron Davis had 23 for the Clippers, who have lost four of five.
Bower moved to the sideline while keeping his general manager role when Byron Scott was fired on Thursday.
Peja Stojakovic scored 15 points for New Orleans, hitting six free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
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Injuries and illness left Golden State with seven healthy bodies, although the Cavaliers had their own injury concerns.
Jamario Moon left in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle, and Shaquille O’Neal and Anderson Varejao were both inactive for Cleveland. Varejao was scratched with a hip contusion and O’Neal missed his second straight game with a strained shoulder.
Monta Ellis led the Warriors with 23 points and reserve Corey Maggette had 19.
Golden State dressed the league minimum eight players, including Raja Bell, who didn’t play because of a wrist injury that will require surgery next week. Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic were acquired from Charlotte on Monday for Stephen Jackson and Acie Law.
Radmanovic played 34 minutes, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds.
Nuggets 130, Raptors 112
DENVER (AP) — Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points and reserve J.R. Smith finished with 29 for the Nuggets.
Anthony is the only player in the NBA to score at least 20 points in all of his team’s games so far. He’s topped 30 points seven times and 40 points twice. He sat out the final quarter of this one after putting in 30 efficient minutes.
After withstanding Smith’s seven-game suspension and a six-game trip consisting of three back-to-backs, the Nuggets weathered a very determined Raptors team that was without forward Hedo Turkoglu (left hip) but didn’t trail until midway through the third quarter.
Chris Bosh led Toronto with 13 points and 14 rebounds and DeMar DeRozan scored 17. Nene had 20 points and 10 boards for Denver, which shot 62 percent.
Thunder 100, Heat 87
MIAMI (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Russell Westbrook had 24 and Oklahoma City added to its surprising start with the victory.
An early 20-1 run put the Thunder in control, and a 14-2 burst in the third quarter helped seal it for Oklahoma City. Jeff Green added 13 for the Thunder, who’ve won three straight on the road.
Dwyane Wade finished with 22 points on 6 of 19 shooting and Daequan Cook scored 14 of his 17 in the fourth quarter for Miami. Jermaine O’Neal had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who visit Atlanta Wednesday for the first time since the Hawks beat Miami in Game 7 of last season’s Eastern Conference opening-round series.
The Thunder got off to a 6-32 start last year. This season, they’re 6-5.
Suns 111, Rockets 105
HOUSTON (AP) — Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points, Steve Nash had 16 assists and Phoenix recovered from a slow start to get the win.
Jason Richardson scored 20 points for the Suns, who have won eight of their last 11 games against the Rockets in Houston.
Carl Landry scored a career-high 27 points off the bench and Aaron Brooks had a career-best 13 assists for the Rockets.
The Suns (10-2) rallied from a double-digit deficit to win for the fifth time this season. They’re the only team to reach 100 points in all of their games so far.
Pacers 91, Nets 83
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Danny Granger scored 22 points, Roy Hibbert tied a career high with 19 and Indiana dropped New Jersey to 0-11.
Dahntay Jones added 17 points for the Pacers, who extended their winning streak to five and can continue their turnaround from an 0-3 start Wednesday when they host another struggling team, the New York Knicks.
Chris Douglas-Roberts scored a career-high 27 points and Brook Lopez added 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Nets, who head to Milwaukee on Wednesday, still a long way from the record 17-game opening skids owned by the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers.
Hornets 110, Clippers 102
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — David West had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeff Bower picked up his first coaching win in the Hornets’ victory.
With Chris Paul out, point guards Darren Collison and Bobby Brown scored 12 apiece and combined for 11 assists as New Orleans snapped a three-game losing streak. Devin Brown had 16 points.
Al Thornton scored 30 points and former Hornets guard Baron Davis had 23 for the Clippers, who have lost four of five.
Bower moved to the sideline while keeping his general manager role when Byron Scott was fired on Thursday.
Peja Stojakovic scored 15 points for New Orleans, hitting six free throws down the stretch to seal the win.