Cavaliers win seventh straight

Cleveland makes Bulls latest victims, 111-87

? LeBron James turned, fired and banked in a three-pointer from 25 feet away that probably had no business going in the basket.

Did he call glass?

“After it went through the net,” James said with a smile.

And that’s how it’s going for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who extended their longest winning streak since 1997 to seven games Tuesday night with a 111-87 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 24 points with 17 rebounds as the Cavs improved to 11-3 since the All-Star break and won their sixth straight at home.

“We’re on a high right now, Cloud Nine,” James said. “We’ve just gotta keep bringing it and bringing it every night.”

Carlos Boozer added 22 points and 13 rebounds, and James had 17 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five blocks.

With the win, Cleveland avenged a 92-81 loss to Chicago on March 1 — its last loss since embarking on the club’s longest winning streak since getting 10 in a row from Nov. 11-Dec. 11, 1997.

Jamal Crawford had 17 points and Kirk Hinrich 14 for the Bulls, who dropped their seventh straight and fell to an NBA-worst 18-49.

Ilgauskas blocked five shots and tied a career high with 10 offensive rebounds.

Clippers 110, Suns 98

Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas, left, defends Chicago's Kendall Gill. Ilgauskas had 24 points and 17 rebounds in the Cavaliers' 111-87 victory Tuesday night in Cleveland.

Phoenix — Quentin Richardson had 32 points and 12 rebounds and Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Phoenix. In winning for only the third time in 13 games and ending a six-game road losing skid, the Clippers handed the Suns their 20th loss in the last 26 games.

Grizzlies 82, 76ers 79

Memphis, Tenn. — Pau Gasol had 22 points and James Posey scored the final four — including a go-ahead layup with 15 seconds remaining — in Memphis’ victory over Philadelphia. Memphis erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit with defense and key shots down the stretch. The biggest defensive play came with about 20 seconds left, when reserve Bo Outlaw stole the ball from Kyle Korver near midcourt and fed Earl Watson. He dished off to Posey for the layup and an 80-79 lead. Posey added two more free throws with 7.8 seconds left.

Blazers 100, Bucks 99

Milwaukee — Damon Stoudamire made a fallaway jumper with a second left to lift Portland to its fourth straight win. Portland blew a 20-point third-quarter lead but rallied in the final minute. Trailing 99-98, Zach Randolph lost the ball in the lane with 4 seconds to go, but Stoudamire grabbed it and made the winning 12-footer as the shot clock expired.

Knicks 114, Wizards 110, OT

New York — After five overtime defeats, including an excruciating one several days earlier, New York finally won a game that lasted longer than 48 minutes by defeating Washington.

Sonics 118, Hawks 110

Atlanta — Brent Barry scored a season-high 28 points, Ray Allen added 27 and Seattle beat Atlanta to win two straight for the first time in 24 games. The Sonics improved to 4-1 in their last five games in Atlanta, but Seattle entered with just one victory in seven games and three of 14 overall. Stephen Jackson scored 39 points for the Hawks, who have lost six of seven. Jackson, who has at least 30 in three of five games, hit four straight free throws on consecutive possessions to cut the lead to 99-93 with 6:11 left.

Heat 96, Hornets 83

Miami — Dwyane Wade scored 23 points to lead Miami over New Orleans. The Heat never trailed and outscored the Hornets 18-11 in the final 9:17 to win their sixth straight home game. Caron Butler finished with 20 points and Rafer Alston added 17, including a three-pointer in the first quarter, which set a franchise record for making at least one three in 34 consecutive games.

Nets 94, Kings 77

East Rutherford, N.J. — Rodney Rogers hit his first six shots and New Jersey defeated Sacramento. The win ended New Jersey’s three-game losing streak against the Kings and went a long way in avenging a 105-92 decision in Sacramento.