CAVS DEFEAT BULLS FOR 12TH STRAIGHT VICTORY AT HOME

CLEVELAND» LeBron James scored 34 points, Kevin Love added 27 and the Cavaliers won their 12th straight home game, 115-112 over the 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 3-pointer in the final second.

Dwyane Wade had three steals and two blocks in the fourth quarter for Cleveland, which improved to 3-0 against the Bulls this season.

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

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue missed the game with an undisclosed illness. Assistant coach Larry Drew filled in for Lue, who conducted his usual media session about 90 minutes before tipoff and was in Cleveland’s locker room before the team announced he was sick.

THURSDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

DeMar DeRozan scored a career-high 45 points and the Raptors overcame a 22-point deficit to beat the Joel Embiid-less 76ers 114-109. DeRozan also set a career high with six 3-pointers. … Michael Beasley scored 28 of his season-high 32 points in the second half, helping the Knicks shake off a dismal return by Kristaps Porzingis to beat the Celtics 102-93. 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. … Former Memphis guard Troy Daniels hit a 3-pointer with 17 seconds to play to give Phoenix the lead, and the Suns held off the Grizzlies 97-95 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 against Chicago.