LOS ANGELES — LeBron James scored 25 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from their shock defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies with a 120-111 victory over the Sacramento Kings Wednesday.
James had been scathing in his assessment of the Cavaliers’ readiness for the play-offs after Monday’s upset loss to Memphis, warning that his team were a long way from postseason form.
However the Cavs made sure there was no repeat defeat against Sacramento, which remains in the lower reaches of the Western Conference with a lot of ground to make up if it is to force its way into the play-offs.
Kyrie Irving top scored for the Cavaliers with 30 points, while James also finished with 11 rebounds and six assists to go with his 25-point haul.
The key moment came when Kevin Love drained a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter before drawing a foul.
Love converted the four-point play to give Cleveland a seven-point lead with 1:32 left that they never looked like relinquishing as they held on to win and improve their record to 45-18.
Tristan Thompson also chipped in with 18 points and 15 rebounds as Cleveland went 2 1/2 games clear of the Toronto Raptors at the head of the Eastern Conference.
Warriors 115, Jazz 94
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for three 3-pointers in the final 58 seconds of the second quarter, helping the Golden State Warriors break open a close game and pull away from the Utah Jazz en route to a 115-94 victory.
Curry (three) and Thompson (five) combined for eight 3-pointers in the game, giving them an even 500 for the season, as the Warriors (57-6) won their 27th in a row at home this season and 46th straight at Oracle Arena dating back to last January.
Curry finished with just 12 points, but Thompson poured in 23, Draymond Green had 17 and center Marreese Speights came off the bench to provide an additional 16, helping Golden State clinch a season-series win over the Jazz this season with a third consecutive win.
Celtics 116, Grizzlies 96
The Boston Celtics roared to their 14th straight home victory, erupting for 31 points, including 16 by Isaiah Thomas, in the third quarter and routing the depleted Memphis Grizzlies 116-96.
The home winning streak is Boston’s longest since an 18-gamer in 1990-91. The Celtics (39-26) have won 17 of their last 22 games overall.
Rockets 118, 76ers 104
James Harden scored 29 points to go along with nine rebounds and eight assists, Dwight Howard added 21 points and 18 rebounds and the Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers.
Patrick Beverley scored 16 points and Trevor Ariza contributed 15 for the Rockets, who won their second straight game and evened their record at 32-32. K.J. McDaniels had 12 points and Jason Terry added 10 points for Houston.
Ish Smith led the reeling Sixers with 21 points, while Nerlens Noel and Robert Covington scored 17 apiece. Isaiah Canaan contributed 14, Jerami Grant had 13 and Hollis Thompson 10.
Bucks 114, Heat 108
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points, Jabari Parker added 23 and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 114-108 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night at the Bradley Center.
Antetokounmpo made 9 of 15 shots from the field for the Bucks, who shot 52 percent from the floor and hit 4 of 8 3-pointers while going 26 of 37 from the free throw line.
Milwaukee also got 20 points from Khris Middleton and 18 from Mason Plumlee.
Hassan Whiteside scored 23 points off the bench to lead Miami, which also got 20 from Luol Deng and 18 from Dwyane Wade.
Other results: Hornets 122, Pelicans 113; Pistons 102, Mavericks 96; Knicks 128, Suns 97; Thunder 120, Clippers 108.
