CLEVELAND — LeBron James had 20 points and 12 assists, and Antawn Jamison scored 18 points in his first start for Cleveland as the Cavaliers beat the New Orleans Hornets 105-95 on Tuesday night and snapped a three-game losing streak.

New Orleans rookies Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison combined for 59 points, including a franchise-record 23 from Thornton in the second quarter.

James, though, closed out another win for Cleveland in the final two minutes, hitting a 3-pointer and finishing a three-point play to escape a huge night from the Hornets' rookies.

Thornton scored a career-high 37 off the bench, igniting a 40-point second quarter for the Hornets by making his first five shots and 10 of 13 in the quarter.

Lakers 99, Grizzlies 98

In Memphis, Kobe Bryant returned to lineup after missing five games with an ankle injury and hit a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left to lift the Lakers to a 99-98 victory over the Grizzlies.

Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points, including his team's final nine points. His 3-pointer with 54 seconds left tied the game.

Pau Gasol added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the seventh time in their last eight road games.

The Grizzlies, who lost their fifth straight home game, were led by O.J. Mayo's 25 points. Zach Randolph scored 20 and grabbed 14 rebounds, his seventh straight double-double.

Suns 104, Thunder 102

In Oklahoma City, Jason Richardson connected on a floater from the foul line with 0.7 seconds left to complete the Suns' rally from a 10-point deficit and Phoenix snapped the Thunder's nine-game winning streak.

Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points and Richardson had his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who were down 10 with 3½ minutes to play.

Kevin Durant scored 36 points and Russell Westbrook had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder.

Phoenix has won nine of its last 11 games to move past the surging Thunder into fifth place in the Western Conference.

And they did it this time without two-time MVP Steve Nash, who didn't make the trip to rest injuries to his back and abdomen.

Celtics 110, Knicks 106

In Boston, Rajon Rondo scored 15 points and had 16 assists to lead the Celtics to a victory over the Knicks in a matchup of teams that traded with each other last week.

Ray Allen added 24 points, Kevin Garnett 16, Marquis Daniels 14 and Kendrick Perkins 12 as Boston sent New York to its eighth straight loss. The Celtics were without forward Paul Pierce, who was home with the flu. Boston coach Doc Rivers said Pierce wouldn't have played anyway due to a sore right thumb injured last Thursday in a win over the Lakers.

David Lee had 28 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, while Wilson Chandler scored 19 points and Sergio Rodriguez 18.

Timberwolves 91, Heat 88

In Miami, Kevin Love had 17 points and 12 rebounds and the Timberwolves took advantage of Dwyane Wade's absence for a rare road victory over the Heat.

Jonny Flynn added 16 points for the Timberwolves, who snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the fifth time in 29 road games this season.

Dorell Wright had a career-high 26 points off the bench to lead the Heat, and Jermaine O'Neal added 18.

Miami played its third straight game without Wade, the All-Star MVP, and starting point guard Rafer Alston. Wade is listed as day-to-day with a strained left calf, while Alston is dealing with a bruised right hand.

Trail Blazers 102, Nets 93

in East Rutherford, N.J., Brandon Roy scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Trail Blazers avoided blowing a big lead for a second straight game by holding off the Nets.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 27 points and Andre Miller had 20 as the Trail Blazers overcame an ankle injury to recently acquired center Marcus Camby in snapping a two-game losing streak and winning for only the sixth time in 14 games.

The second game of that slide came Sunday when Portland squandered a 25-point lead and lost to Utah in overtime.

Courtney Lee and Devin Harris led the Nets with 28 points apiece. The total matched Lee's career high set earlier this season and was a season high for Harris.

76ers 110, Warriors 102

In Oakland, Lou Williams scored 26 points, including a clinching 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds left, and Andre Iguodala added 22 points and seven assists as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Golden State Warriors.

Williams matched his career high with five 3-pointers and had 10 rebounds and seven assists to help the Sixers win in their first game since guard Allen Iverson took an indefinite leave of absence to be with his ill daughter.

Coming off a 32-point loss to Chicago three days earlier, Philadelphia led by 17 going into the fourth quarter but had to withstand a late flurry from Golden State.

Monta Ellis had 22 points and C.J. Watson added 20 for the Warriors, who pulled within 105-102 on Anthony Morrow's 3-pointer with 39.1 seconds remaining. Williams then answered with his own 3 and Rodney Carney added a pair of free throws for the Sixers.

Pistons 101, Kings 89

In Sacramento, Richard Hamilton scored 30 points and the Detroit Pistons pulled away in the third quarter to defeat the struggling Sacramento Kings.

After taking a 12-point lead in halftime, Hamilton keyed a third-quarter effort that hiked the Pistons' advantage to 30 at one point.

Tyreke Evans had 28 points and a career-high 13 assists for the Kings, who have dropped five straight since beating the Pistons in their final game before the All-Star break.

Tayshaun Prince scored 22 points for the Pistons, who shot 58 percent in winning their second straight game.

Source: AP

finally, we're back on the "w" side...

go giants! go cavs! go fed! go team spain!