Lebronscores57 as Cavs end slide, beat Washington
WASHINGTON — Look out, NBA. Walking to the locker room after scoring 57 points Friday, Lebron James expressed what amounted to a warning for upcoming opponents: “This is the best I’m feeling in my career.”
In case there were any questions about Eastern Conference supremacy, James poured in the second-highest point total of his career and an NBA best this season to help his Cleveland Cavaliers end a four-game skid by beating the Washington Wizards 130-122.
“Every shot that I took,” the four-time league MVP said, “I felt like it was going in.”
■ At Detroit, Andre Drummond, who has shot worse than 40 percent on free throws in his career, made 14 of 16 at the line and totaled 24 points for Detroit. Findlay Prep product Avery Bradley scored 19 of his 23 points in the first half for the Pistons.
■ At Dallas, Anthony Davis had 30 points and 13 rebounds and Demarcus Cousins 20 points and 22 rebounds for New Orleans, which overcame 40 percent shooting. Harrison Barnes scored 26 for Dallas (1-9).
■ At Philadelphia, J.J. Redick scored 31 points, and Ben Simmons added 14 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia (5-4), which won its fourth straight moved over .500 for the first time in four years.
■ At Los Angeles, Brook Lopez scored 23 of his season-high 34 points in the second half against his former team and totaled 10 rebounds for Los Angeles. Rookie Kyle Kuzma added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers.
■ At New York, Kristaps Porzingis scored 37 points for New York, which got coach Jeff Hornacek his first win over his former team. Devin Booker had 34 points for Phoenix, which had won four of five.
■ At San Antonio, Bryn Forbes had 22 points and Rudy Gay 20, helping San Antonio’s reserves outscore Charlotte’s 62-16. The Spurs still are without injured Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker.
■ At Salt Lake City, Demar Derozan scored 17 of his 37 points in the third quarter for Toronto, which shot 53.5 percent. Rookie Donovan Mitchell scored 25 for Utah, which fell to 5-1 at home.
■ At Denver, Paul Millsap had 27 points, including three straight free throws with 11.9 seconds left, for Denver, which took its first lead midway through the third quarter.
■ At Oklahoma City, Kyrie Irving scored 22 of his 25 points in the second half for Boston, which overcame an 18-point deficit to win its seventh straight.
■ At Atlanta, James Harden scored 21 of his 29 points in Houston’s season-best 69-point first half as the Rockets dealt Atlanta its eighth straight loss.
■ At Orlando, Fla., Justin Holiday had 19 points to lead seven scorers in double figures for Chicago in its first road victory of the season.
Pistons 105, Bucks 96 — Pelicans 99, Mavericks 94 — 76ers 121, Pacers 110 — Lakers 124, Nets 112 — Knicks 120, Suns 107 — Spurs 108, Hornets 101 — Raptors 109, Jazz 100 — Nuggets 95, Heat 94 — Celtics 101, Thunder 94 — Rockets 119, Hawks 104 — Bulls 105, Magic 83 —