CHICAGO - LeBron James became the youngest player to score 15,000 career points, breaking Kobe Bryant's mark by about two years, and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away late to beat Chicago 92-85 on Friday night for their 12th win in 13 games.
James scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, giving him 15,026 in his career, and had 11 rebounds. He scored seven straight late in the game as Cleveland increased its lead to 10, sending the Bulls to their 10th straight loss.
James reached the milestone at 25 years, 79 days, and he did it in his 540th game. Bryant was 27 years, 136 days and playing his 657th game, according to STATS LLC, when he did it for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Suns 110, Jazz 100
PHOENIX - Amare Stoudemire scored the first 11 points for Phoenix en route to a season-high 44 and the Suns led all the way in a victory over Utah that pulled them within a game of the Jazz for fourth place in the West.
Stoudemire made 14 of 16 shots and 16 of 18 free throws. He scored 27 points in the second half, 16 in the final quarter, in Phoenix's first victory over the Jazz in three tries this season. Robin Lopez added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Steve Nash 15 points and 10 assists. Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 16 rebounds for Utah.
Lakers 104, Timberwolves 96
LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant had 22 points and a season-high 13 assists, leading Los Angeles to its sixth straight victory.
Lamar Odom scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and Pau Gasol added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers. Jonny Flynn scored 20 points for Minnesota. The Timberwolves have lost 12 in row and 18 of 19.
Hawks 93, Bobcats 92, OT
ATLANTA - Joe Johnson sank a fallaway jumper over three Charlotte defenders just before time expired for Atlanta.
Johnson returning after missing two games because of Achilles' tendinitis, had 18 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Celtics 94, Rockets 87
HOUSTON - Paul Pierce scored 26 points, Ray Allen hit five 3-pointers and had 19 points, and Boston snapped Houston's winning streak at fours games.
Kevin Garnett added 15 points, and Rajon Rondo had 10 assists for the Celtics, who smothered high-scoring Houston point guard Aaron Brooks and held the Rockets to 39.5 percent shooting (30 of 76).
Thunder 115, Raptors 89
TORONTO - Kevin Durant scored 31 points, and Jeff Green had 25 to lead Oklahoma City to its sixth victory in seven games.
Russell Westbrook had 11 points and 10 assists for the Thunder, fifth in the Western Conference at 42-25. Chris Bosh led Toronto with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Andrea Bargnani had 15 points. The Raptors, eighth in the Eastern Conference, are 2-10 in their last 12 games and 33-34 overall.
Knicks 92, 76ers 88
NEW YORK - Toney Douglas scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, rallying short-handed New York past Philadelphia.
Spurs 147, Warriors 116
SAN ANTONIO - Manu Ginobili scored 23 points and San Antonio had its highest total since Gregg Popovich took over as head coach in 1996.
Trail Blazers 76, Wizards 74
PORTLAND, Ore. - Brandon Roy rebounded from a cold spell to hit a 22-foot jumper with 0.9 seconds left to lift Portland.
Bucks 114, Kings 108, 2OT
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Milwaukee rookie strar Brandon Jennings scored 35 points, hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and added eight assists.
John Salmons had 27 points, and Andrew Bogut added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, Beno Udrih had 26 points and nine assists for the Kings, who have lost two straight and six of eight.
Pacers 106, Pistons 102
INDIANAPOLIS - Danny Granger scored 29 points in his return from a cheek injury, and Troy Murphy added 20 points for Indiana.