LOS ANGELES (AFP) – The Cleveland Cavaliers stretched their NBA winning streak to 11 games Saturday as LeBron James poured it on in the fourth quarter to keep the depleted but desperate Memphis Grizzlies at bay.
James, who leads the league in fourth quarter points, scored 15 of his 34 points in the final period as the Cavs held on for a 116-111 victory in Cleveland.
Cleveland, their rocky start to the season a more distant memory with every win, solidified their hold on second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics – who became the first team this season to reach 20 wins with a 116-111 home victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Memphis endured their 11th straight defeat as Cleveland erased a 12-point first quarter deficit and then repelled the Grizzlies’ fourth-quarter rally bid.
James added 12 assists in 30 minutes on the floor, drawing chants of “M-V-P’’ from Cleveland fans.
Kevin Love added 20 points along with 11 rebounds. J.R. Smith scored 17 points and Dwyane Waded added 16 points and four assists off the bench for Cleveland.
Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks drained a three-pointer that tied the score at 109-109 with 2:10 to play.
James then drove for a layup and the Grizzlies’ Tyreke Evans missed slashed to the rim for another.
Brooks made two free throws before James drained his jump shot to seal it.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue praised the team effort in a “tricky game.’’
“We just kept our composure, kept playing,’’ Lue said, ‘‘and ‘Bron took us home down the stretch.’’
In Boston, the Celtics withstood a 38-point performance from Suns star Devin Booker – who had dropped 70 points on the Celtics in a game at the TD Garden last season.
Kyrie Irving was the late-game hero for the Celtics, scoring five of his 19 points in the final two minutes.
The Suns had trimmed a late eight-point deficit to two when Irving drained a three-pointer with 1:53 remaining to help the Celtics hang on.
Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris scored 17 points each, Jayson Tatum added 15 and Al Horford scored 14 points with 11 assists and five rebounds for the Celtics.