Cavs snap skid behind LeBron’s 57-point effort

LeBron James had the second-highest scoring performance of his career with 57 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 130-122 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

James sank 23-of-34 shots, including two three-pointers, made all nine of his free-throw attempts and had 11 rebounds with seven assists in a dominant performance befitting a fourtime league Most Valuable Player. He finished within four of his career-high set March 3, 2014, against Charlotte.

Derrick Rose added 20 points for the Cavaliers, whose slide included three double-digit losses.

Bradley Beal scored 36 points for the Wizards, who have lost four of five. John Wall had 13 points and 15 assists.

In other NBA action, James Harden had 29 points and 11 assists before sitting the fourth quarter as the Houston Rockets bombed away early and often from behind the three-point line to beat the Atlanta Hawks 119-104.

Harden was 6-of-11 from on threes, and the Rockets took 47 of their 89 shots from behind the arc, making 16.

The Rockets had lost seven straight games overall to the Hawks and hadn’t won in Atlanta since a 109-102 victory on November 2, 2012.

Kent Bazemore scored 18 for the Hawks, who dropped their eighth straight.

Meanwhile, J.J. Redick scored a season-high 31 points, including three three-pointers in the final 2:06, and rookie Ben Simmons had his second triple-double as the Philadelphia 76ers won their fourth straight game in a 121-110 conquest of the Indiana Pacers.

Redick, signed as a free agent in the offseason after four seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, nailed 11-of-19 of shots, including 8-of-12 three-point attempts. Simmons finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He also added three steals and three blocks.

Also, Kyrie Irving scored 22 of his 25 points after halftime as the Boston Celtics beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-94 to extend their winning streak to seven games.

Al Horford added 20 points for Boston, which outscored Oklahoma City 64-39 in the second half.

Paul George led the Thunder with 25 points. Russell Westbrook added 19 points and 11 assists while Carmelo Anthony shot 3-of-17 and finished with 10 points.

Bryn Forbes scored 22 points to lead four reserves in double figures as the San Antonio Spurs held on for a 108-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets to snap a four-game losing streak.