LeBron leads Cavs to end Bulls’ streak

NBA

CAVALIERS 115, BULLS 112

CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 34 points, Kevin Love added 27 and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their 12th consecutive home game, 115112 over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night as injured point guard Isaiah Thomas moved even closer to his return.

James had 11 points in the fourth quarter and dropped a pair of free throws with 11.1 seconds left as the Cavs won for the 19th time in 21 games and ended Chicago’s seven-game winning streak.

With Cleveland’s Jae Crowder guarding him closely, Chicago’s Denzel Valentine was short with a tying three-pointer in the final second.

Dwyane Wade had three steals and two blocks in the fourth quarter for Cleveland.

Rookie Lauri Markkanen scored 25 points, Valentine had 18 and Nikola Mirotic 15 for the Bulls, who lost for the first time since Dec. 6. Chicago’s win streak followed a 10game losing skid.

The Bulls battled back from a 10-point deficit early in the fourth and were within four at 111-107 when James, who has been so clutch in the fourth quarter all season, sank a fadeaway baseline jumper. Chicago pulled to 113-112 on Valentine’s layup before James made his two free throws and Cleveland got the key defensive stop to end it.

Cavs Coach Tyronn Lue missed the game with an undisclosed illness. Assistant coach Larry Drew filled in for Lue.

RAPTORS 114, 76ERS 109

PHILADELPHIA — DeMar DeRozan scored a career-high 45 points and Toronto overcame a 22-point deficit to beat Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia.

DeRozan also set a career high with 6 three-pointers. His jumper with 4:13 left put the Raptors ahead to stay after they trailed 76-54 early in the third quarter. Kyle Lowry added 23 points to help the Raptors win their fifth consecutive and 11th in 12 games.

Ben Simmons scored 20 points for Philadelphia.

KNICKS 102, CELTICS 93

NEW YORK — Michael Beasley scored 28 of his season-high 32 points in the second half, helping New York shake off Kristaps Porzingis’ dismal return to beat Boston.

Beasley went back to the bench with Porzingis back from a knee injury, but he was on the floor in the fourth quarter while Porzingis watched from the sideline as the former No. 2 overall pick punished the Celtics inside and out to help the Knicks pull away.

Kyrie Irving had 32 points for the Celtics.

SUNS 97, GRIZZLIES 95

PHOENIX — Former Memphis guard Troy Daniels hit a three-pointer with 17 seconds to play to give Phoenix the lead, and the Suns held off the Grizzlies for their third victory in four games.

T.J. Warren led the Suns with 27 points, and Daniels — acquired from the Grizzlies in September — added 14 off the bench. Phoenix won at home for the first time since Nov. 19.

Tyreke Evans led Memphis with 21 points, and Marc Gasol added 13 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocked shots. The Grizzlies have lost 8 of 9 games and 9 consecutive on the road.

Memphis had two chances to tie or take the lead, but Evans’ shot at the buzzer missed.