James scores 30 to lead Cavaliers past Pistons
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-01 11:45

LeBron James scored 30 points with seven rebounds and seven assists Saturday in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 97-84 win over the Detroit Pistons, who had their winning streak stopped at nine and lost for just the fourth time this season.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 18 points, Larry Hughes 16 and Drew Gooden 12 with 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who posted their most impressive victory and improved to 13-3 at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Pistons, who came in on pace to win a record 73 regular-season games, shot a season-low 36 percent (29-of-81) from the floor and dropped to 24-4 _ still one of the best starts in NBA history.

Tayshaun Prince, who came in averaging 15.1 points, had just four on 2-of-12 shooting. Chauncey Billups was only 2-for-11 from the field and had 14.

Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton had 21 points apiece to lead the Pistons and Ben Wallace added 11 with 18 rebounds. Mavericks 95, Hornets 90=

At Oklahoma City, Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points to help Dallas beat New Orleans.

Jason Terry and Josh Howard scored 20 apiece for the Mavericks, who beat the Hornets for the 16th straight game dating to November 1999. David West led the Hornets with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Speedy Claxton came off the bench to score 17, and Chris Paul had 16 points and 10 assists.

Nowitzki averaged 30 points and shot 54 percent in the first two games against the Hornets this season. After a sluggish first half, he scored 14 in the third quarter in helping the Mavericks open a 10-point lead. They began the period by making eight of their first 10 shots, and closed it by holding the Hornets scoreless over the final 3:14. Suns 107, Bulls 98, OT=

At Chicago, Shawn Marion scored eight of his 28 points in overtime and Eddie House hit a key 3-pointer to lead Phoenix over the slumping Bulls.

Tied at 92 after regulation, Marion scored the Suns' first six points in overtime. His spinning layup on the right block made it 98-94 and sent the Bulls into a timeout with 2:17 left.

House then made a 3-pointer to make it a seven-point game. And after a layup by Chicago's Ben Gordon, House threw a perfect bounce pass to Marion for a one-handed dunk that made it 103-96 with 43.5 seconds left.

Kirk Hinrich scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to prevent the sixth straight loss for the Bulls. Warriors 94, Rockets 89=

At Houston, Baron Davis scored 23 points and Jason Richardson added 22 to help Golden State hold off the reeling Houston Rockets.

Davis also had seven assists and five rebounds and Richardson added six rebounds and five assists for the Warriors, who have won three straight games. Together, the backcourt duo went 6-for-15 from 3-point range.

Tracy McGrady capped an eventful week with 32 points and 10 rebounds. On Tuesday, his fiancee gave birth to their second child and on Wednesday, he scored a season-high 38 in a loss to New Orleans.

He scored 25 in the second half on Saturday and nearly led the Rockets back from a late 13-point deficit.