CLEVELAND (AP) – LeBron James scored 34 points, including the first eight in the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-98 on Sunday for their sixth straight win.
James made a pair of 3-pointers and a nasty fade-away jumper to give the Cavs a 91-80 lead. Later, the four-time MVP fed Kevin Love for a 3-pointer with 3:38 left that put the Thunder away. The Cavs are now 6-1 since James returned after missing eight games with a strained back and knee.
Love added 19 points and 13 rebounds, Kyrie Irving scored 21 and J. R. Smith had 14. Reserve Tristan Thompson grabbed 16 rebounds.
Kevin Durant scored 32 and Russell Westbrook had 22 for the Thunder, who went 3-2 on their longest road trip this season. Dion Waiters, acquired from Cleveland in a three-way trade earlier this month, added 14.
James sat out Cleveland’s previous game at Oklahoma City on Dec. 11 with a sore left knee, and Thunder coach Scott Brooks was hoping he wouldn’t have to see No. 23 again.