Cavaliers outpace Trail Blazers in overtime

CLEVELAND – LeBron James had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 24th career triple-double, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 97-92 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

Cleveland committed only two turnovers, tying an NBA record, while setting a franchise record and marking the lowest total in the NBA this season.

James scored six points in the overtime period, with his driving basket in the lane after the Cavaliers won the jumpball putting them ahead for good. Zydrunas Ilgauskas added a free throw and a basket, giving the Cavaliers a 91-86 lead with 3:15 left. James hit two more baskets as the Cavaliers outscored Portland, 11-6, in the extra session.

Brandon Roy led the Trail Blazers with 24 points.

At Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 24 points, and reserve Flip Murray had 19 as Atlanta downed Dallas for its seventh straight win, 95-87.

The Hawks moved four games ahead of fifth-place Miami in the Eastern Conference standings.

Dallas, which has lost three of four to drop 1 1/2 behind seventh-place Utah in the Western Conference, but the Mavericks are still 3 1/2 ahead of Phoenix for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas, which was without two starters, swingman Josh Howard, who has a sore left ankle, and forward Erick Dampier, who has a swollen left knee and missed his first game of the season.

At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol each scored 21 points as Los Angeles held off Golden State, 114-106.

The victory was the Lakers’ 31st at home, eclipsing last season’s total, and kept them a full game behind Cleveland for the NBA’s best record and home court advantage throughout the playoffs with 14 games remaining.

Monta Ellis scored 27 points and Kelenna Azubuike added 25 for the Warriors, who have lost 19 of their last 22 meetings with the Lakers and are 2-18 at Staples Center since the arena opened in 1999.          (AP)