BOSTON (AP) – LeBron James scored a season-high 41 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 122-121 in the NBA on Friday.
James made one of two free throws with 36 seconds left to give Cleveland a one-point lead. Kyrie Irving then missed a layup and Avery Bradley rebounded for Boston, which called timeout with seven seconds to go.
But the Celtics couldn’t get a shot off as Rajon Rondo, who finished with 16 assists, lost control of his dribble near the top of the key just before the final buzzer sounded.
Irving had 27 points and Kevin Love added 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who earned their third straight win.
Kelly Olynyk led Boston with a season-high 21 points, and Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green had 19 apiece.
PISTONS 96, THUNDER 89 (Over time)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Brandon Jennings scored 25 of his 29 points in the second half and overtime, leading the Detroit past Oklahoma City.
Jennings made a tiebreaking three-pointer to give the Pistons an 87-84 lead with 2:32 minutes left in overtime. He added another three while falling to the ground, increasing the advantage to 92-84.
Jeremy Lamb set career highs with 24 points and ten rebounds for Oklahoma City, which led 48-42 at half-time. Reggie Jackson had 20 points and 12 assists, and Serge Ibaka finished with 19 points and ten boards.
Jackson missed a 16-foot fadeaway jumper at the buzzer in regulation that would have lifted the Thunder to their first two-game winning streak of the season.
HORNETS 103, SUNS 95
PHOENIX (AP) – Kemba Walker scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half as Charlotte rallied past Phoenix.
Al Jefferson and Gary Neal each had 14 points for the Hornets, who won for the first time in five road games. Lance Stephenson scored 13, and Bismack Biyombo finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte had lost the last five games in the series.
Eric Bledsoe had 22 points and matched a career high with 11 rebounds for the Suns, who had won two in a row.
ROCKETS 88, SIXERS 87
HOUSTON (AP) – James Harden scored 35 points, including an off-balance layup with nine seconds left, to lead Houston past winless Philadelphia.
The Sixers led by one point before Michael Carter-Williams bounced the ball off his foot and out of bounds to give Houston the ball. Harden powered through the lane to hit the game-winner.
Philadelphia had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Carter-Williams missed a jump shot.
Tony Wroten scored 19 for the Sixers, who led for most of the game after an embarrassing 53-point loss to Dallas on Thursday.
The Sixers remain the NBA’s only winless team, dropping to 0-9 for their worst start since opening the 1972-73 season with 15 consecutive losses.
Other scores:
New Orleans Pelicans 139, Minnesota Timberwolves 91
Utah Jazz 102, New York Knicks 100
Denver Nuggets 108, Indiana Pacers 87
Orlando Magic 101, Milwaukee Bucks 85
