AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — LeBron James scored a season-high 41 points, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 101-97 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
James almost won the game in regulation with a 27-footer, but a video review negated the dramatic shot.
He set the tone early in the overtime, making free throws and rejecting Richard Hamilton's shot with a fantastic block in front of the rim.
James had a chance to make it a two-possession game with 17 seconds left, but missed the first of two free throws.
Rasheed Wallace missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Cleveland's Anderson Varejao grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made one of two free throws to seal the win.
Cleveland pulled within two games of the Pistons for the Central Division and Eastern Conference lead with its fourth win in five games.
Hamilton scored 29 points, Chris Webber had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Chauncey Billups had 16 points and 14 assists and Tayshaun Prince added 12 points.
HEAT 103, BULLS 70: At Miami, Shaquille O'Neal had 24 points, nine rebounds and a season-high eight assists, Eddie Jones added 23 points, and Miami put together a huge second-half run to beat Chicago. The Heat, who never trailed, led by 19 points in the opening quarter and, after the Bulls got within three midway through the third, outscored Chicago 38-9 over a 15-minute stretch before Pat Riley emptied the bench. Antoine Walker had 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Udonis Haslem added 12 points for the Heat — who've won 10 straight at home.
HAWKS 100, WIZARDS 97: At Atlanta, Zaza Pachulia scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and short-handed Atlanta beat Southeast Division-leading Washington to snap a six-game losing streak. The Hawks ended the Wizards' three-game winning streak, despite missing three starters. Atlanta beat Washington for only the second time in the last 12 meetings.
76ERS 92, SUPERSONICS 89: At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala had his third triple-double and Joe Smith swished the winning jumper with 14.4 seconds left to lead resurgent Philadelphia to its fifth straight win. Iguodala finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Andre Miller had 17 points. Samuel Dalembert grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds, 12 on the defensive end. Steven Hunter had 13 points. Ray Allen led Seattle with 29 points.
RAPTORS 94, GRIZZLIES 87: At Toronto, Chris Bosh had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Toronto ended a three-game losing streak with a victory over Memphis. Andrea Bargnani, the No. 1 pick in the draft, added 18 points for the Raptors, who led by as many as 25 points. Toronto ended an eight-game skid to Memphis and moved 4 1/2 games ahead of idle New Jersey for first place in the Atlantic Division.
ROCKETS 111, CELTICS 80: At Boston, Tracy McGrady had 25 points and nine assists, and Houston snapped Boston's four-game winning streak. Six players scored in double figures for the Rockets, who ended a two-game skid and won for just the second time in six games. Shane Battier had 15 points, and Chuck Hayes tied a career high with 14 points and added 11 rebounds. Yao Ming, playing for the second time since missing 32 games with a fracture in his right leg, had 11 points and five rebounds for Houston.
BUCKS 110, LAKERS 90: At Milwaukee, Charlie Villanueva scored a season-high 26 points to lead Milwaukee over undermanned Los Angeles, which was without the suspended Kobe Bryant. Charlie Bell added 20 points for Milwaukee, 13 in the decisive third quarter, and Andrew Bogut scored 22 as the Bucks shot a season-best 59.5 percent from the floor.
SUNS 115, BOBCATS 106 (OT): The Phoenix Suns needed a career-high 32 points from Leandro Barbosa and 19 3-pointers — one shy of the franchise record — to escape with a 115-106 overtime victory over Charlotte Wednesday night, sending the Bobcats to their seventh loss in a row.
WARRIORS 110, NUGGETS 96: At Oakland, Calif., Baron Davis scored 22 points, and Golden State took advantage of Carmelo Anthony's absence to beat Denver. All five starters scored in double figures for the Warriors (28-35), who overcame a 12-point second-quarter deficit and took control of the game with a 14-4 outburst to start the third quarter. Allen Iverson led Denver (29-30) with 35 points.