James sets double-figure scoring record, Cavs beat N.O.

CLEVELAND » LeBron James scored in double digits in his 867th straight game, breaking the record he shared with Michael Jordan, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to beat the New Orleans Hornets 107-102 on Friday night to avoid slipping in the standings.

James finished with 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, adding another stellar performance to his MVP-worthy 15th NBA season. He finally put the Pelicans away by scoring eight straight in the waning moments of the fourth quarter.

Jordan Clarkson added 23 points and Tristan Thompson had 14 rebounds in 21 minutes for the Cavs, who have won seven of eight. A loss would have dropped the three-time defending Eastern Conference champions from third to fifth with only a handful of games left in the regular season.

Jrue Holiday scored 25 and Nikola Mirotic 20 for New Orleans. Pelicans star Anthony Davis scored just 16 — 12 below his average — on 6-of-19 shooting as he was harassed by Thompson and Larry Nance Jr.

ROCKETS 104, SUNS 103» Gerald Green made a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Houston rallied from a 21-point, second-half deficit to beat Phoenix.

The win was Houston’s 11th straight and extended Phoenix’s skid to 14 games.

Houston rested Chris Paul, Eric Gordon and Nene after clinching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference on Thursday with Golden State’s loss to Milwaukee. The Rockets that did play looked uninspired early against the team with the NBA’s worst record, and Houston trailed by 17 at halftime.

James Harden had 28 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. P.J. Tucker added 18 points and made a career-high five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 126, THUNDER 125, OT » Paul Millsap scored a season-high 36 points to help Denver beat Oklahoma City.

Nikola Jokic had 23 points and 16 rebounds, and Will Barton added 18points for the Nuggets, who had lost two straight and desperately needed the win for the Western conference playoff race. Denver entered the night two games out of the No. 8 spot.

Russell Westbrook had 33points, 13assists and nine rebounds, but he missed what would have been a game-winning 3-pointer at the end of regulation. Carmelo Anthony scored 23points and Jerami Grant added 16for the Thunder, who have lost four of five. Those losses have been by a combined nine points, with none by more than four.

TIMBERWOLVES 93, MAVERICKS 92 » KarlAnthony Towns had 21 points and 20 rebounds, Jamal Crawford scored 24points and Minnesota held off Dallas to gain ground in the tight Western Conference playoff race.

After shooting just 34 percent in the first half and trailing until midway through the third quarter, the Wolves turned to Crawford, who scored 15 points after halftime.