Cavaliers snap record losing streak

• Cavaliers snap record losing streak

CLEVELAND (AP):

It's over. Finally. Barely. Nearly two months after it started innocently, the Cleveland Cavaliers stopped their NBA-record losing streak at 26 games Friday night with a 126-119 win in overtime against the Los Angeles Clippers, who did all they could to extend the Cavs' misery.

Cleveland won for the first time since December 18 against the New York Knicks, and had to go an extra five minutes to ensure it didn't set a record for the longest skid in pro sports history. The Cavs will gladly settle with tying the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the worst streak among the four major sports.

It's one they didn't want to own, and they played like it.

Antawn Jamison scored 35 points and made the game's biggest basket, a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in OT for the Cavs. Daniel Gibson scored nine in overtime and J.J. Hickson, playing like a man possessed all night in a match-up with Blake Griffin, added 27 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks.

It was only the second victory for Cleveland in the past 38 games. The Cavs were energised by the return of Mo Williams, who had 17 points and 14 assists in his first game in nearly a month.

Griffin had 32 points and 13 rebounds.

• Heat 106 Pistons 92

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP):

Dwyane Wade scored 24 points and LeBron James added 16 points and 10 assists, helping the streaking Miami Heat take over sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference.

Miami (39-14) have won eight straight games since losing five of six last month. The Heat entered the night tied atop the conference with Boston, who were off after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

The Celtics host the Heat today.

Austin Daye scored 18 points for Detroit.

• Lakers 113, Knicks 96

NEW YORK (AP):

Kobe Bryant scored 33 points in another effortless night at Madison Square Garden, and Los Angeles cruised past the struggling New York Knicks.

Bryant scored 19 in the first quarter, and perhaps only the lopsided score kept him from recording a sixth 40-point game at the arena. He also grabbed 10 rebounds.

Pau Gasol added 20 points for the Lakers, who beat the Knicks for the eighth straight time overall and fifth in a row at the Garden, where Bryant owns the scoring record of 61 points that might have been in jeopardy if he played more than 29 minutes.

Bryant shot 12 of 17 from the field and hit four 3-pointers as the Lakers made 54 per cent of their shots.

Other results: Suns 95 Jazz 83; 76ers 77 Spurs 71; Hornets 99 Magic 93; Nets 94 Bobcats 89; Pacers 116 Timberwolves 105; Trail Blazers 102 Raptors 96; Grizzlies 89 Bucks 86.

CAPTION: Cleveland Cavaliers' Antawn Jamison (4) reacts after making a basket in overtime of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night in Cleveland. Nearly two months after it started, the Cavaliers stopped their NBA-record losing streak at 26 games with a 126-119 win in overtime against the Los Angeles Clippers. - AP