James racks up 27,315
CLEVELAND—LeBron James scored 27 points to move into ninth place on the NBA scoring list, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat 11484 on Friday.
James passed Elvin Hayes on a driving layup with 6:58 remaining and has 27,315 career points. The four-time MVP was removed about a minute later and received a loud ovation from the Cleveland crowd.
Kevin Love, a gametime decision because of back spasms, scored a team-high 28 points and had 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers. He missed the morning shootaround but was in the lineup after warming up on the court about an hour before tip-off.
Kyrie Irving added 23 points for the Cavs. They have won three straight after losing three in a row.
Derrick Williams scored 17 points to lead the short-handed Heat. They have lost four straight.
Rockets 102, Thunder 99
In Oklahoma City, James Harden scored 21 points, and the Houston Rockets overcame Russell Westbrook’s seventh consecutive triple-double to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 102-99.
Harden also had 12 assists and nine rebounds to help the Rockets win their fifth straight. Houston withstood Harden’s 6-for23 shooting effort.
Westbrook finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He has the longest triple-double streak since Michael Jordan had seven straight in 1989. The most in a row is nine by Philadelphia’s Wilt Chamberlain in March 1968.
It was Westbrook’s 12th triple-double this season and the 49th of his career. He is the NBA’s active leader in the category and ranks sixth overall.
The Thunder had won the previous six games during Westbrook’s tripledouble binge.
Raptors 101, Celtics 94
In Boston, Kyle Lowry scored 21 of his seasonhigh 34 points in the second half for Toronto.
Toronto erased an eight-point halftime deficit and led by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter. Boston pulled within four in the final minute, but Al Horford fouled Lowry on a 3-point attempt with 30 seconds to play. Lowry made all three free throws to help close out the victory.
DeMar DeRozan added 24 points, and Norman Powell had 20.
Horford and Avery Bradley each had 19 points to lead Boston. Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas sat out his second straight game with a strained right groin.
Pistons 117, Timberwolves 90
In Minneapolis, Andre Drummond had 22 points and 22 rebounds for his second straight 20-20 game and Detroit cruised past Minnesota.
Marcus Morris had 15 points and seven rebounds and the Pistons had their way with Minnesota’s struggling defense, hitting 14 of 29 3-pointers.