Associated Press
CLEVELAND ó LeBron James scored 24 points with 12 assists and orchestrated Cleveland’s show on and off the floor as the Cavs made more history with a 102-74 win over Dallas, extending their winning streak to a franchise-record 12 games.
The Cavs trailed 35-20 in the first quarter and 49-47 at halftime. But Cleveland outscored Dallas 30-11 in the third quarter and 55-25 in the second half to improve to a league-best 35-1 at home.
Following introductions, James and his teammates held a mock baseball game with Mo Williams hitting an imaginary home run.
* BOSTON ó Paul Pierce had 27 points and Eddie House scored 14 of his 16 in the second half to lead the Celtics to a 103-84 win over Oklahoma City.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Kevin Garnett would miss the upcoming game against Oklahoma City and probably Wednesday’s against Charlotte.
* ATLANTA ó Mike Bibby scored 21 points ó including an improbable 3 off the top of the backboard ó and the Hawks took advantage of a tough outing for Kobe Bryant, winning 86-76 to knock the Lakers another game behind Cleveland in the race for the NBA’s best overall record. Bryant had just 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting.
* TORONTO ó Chris Bosh had 31 points and 15 rebounds and Andrea Bargnani scored 28 points for the Raptors, who extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 134-129 overtime victory over Chicago.
Jose Calderon had 22 points and a career-high 19 assists.
* MINNEAPOLIS ó Mike Miller had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to help Minnesota snap a seven-game losing skid with a 108-99 win over New Jersey.
* AUBURN HILLS, Mich. ó Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points, Rodney Stuckey added 16 points and Allen Iverson returned from a back injury to help Detroit gain ground in the playoff race with a 101-97 win over Philadelphia.
Detroit pulled within 11/2 games of Philadelphia for sixth place in the East.
* INDIANAPOLIS ó Danny Granger scored 31 points and rookie Brandon Rush continued his late-season tear with 29 points and 10 rebounds in Indiana’s 124-115 victory against Washington.
As expected, Gilbert Arenas was held out of the game to allow his surgically repaired left knee more time to rest.
* NEW ORLEANS ó Chris Paul scored 26 points, hitting three clutch free throws with 7.1 seconds left, and the depleted Hornets pulled out a 90-86 victory over San Antonio.
* DALLAS ó The NBA slapped Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with a $25,000 fine for publicly criticizing the officials after Denver’s 103-101 win over Dallas.
* NEW ORLEANS ó Hornets forward James Posey has been suspended one game for throwing a ball at a referee.
HOCKEY
COLUMBUS, Ohio ó Patrik Berglund had a goal and two assists as St. Louis moved a step closer to a playoff spot with a 5-2 victory over Columbus.
* DETROIT ó Ryan Suter broke a tie on a power play with 4:36 left, and Pekka Rinne made 33 saves to help Nashville win 4-3 over Detroit.
* TAMPA, Fla. ó Brian Elliott made 20 saves for his first NHL shutout, and Dany Heatley, Ryan Shannon and Jason Spezza scored in Ottawa’s 3-0 victory over Tampa Bay.
* CHICAGO ó Roberto Luongo made 26 saves to match his career high with seven shutouts, and Daniel Sedin had two goals and an assist in Vancouver’s 4-0 victory over Chicago.
* PHILADELPHIA ó Tim Thomas made 45 saves for his career-high 32nd win, Milan Lucic scored two goals and Boston held off Philadelphia 4-3.
BASEBALL
TAMPA, Fla. ó Brett Gardner has won the Yankees’ starting center field job.
Manager Joe Girardi announced that Gardner beat out Melky Cabrera.
The speedy Gardner had a .228 batting average over 42 games in 2008, but he was successful on 13 of 14 stolen-base attempts. He is hitting .385 with five stolen bases in 22 spring training games.
* MESA, Ariz. ó Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella picked Kevin Gregg to be the team’s closer heading into the season.
Gregg beat out Carlos Marmol, the Cubs’ top setup man last year. They both spent spring training vying to replace All-Star closer Kerry Wood, who signed with Cleveland during the offseason.
* LAKELAND, Fla. ó Detroit placed left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis on the 15-day disabled list with an anxiety disorder and put oft-injured reliever Joel Zumaya on the list with a sore right shoulder.
Willis said he has been feeling well on and off the mound.
“I have no idea, but (the doctors) didn’t like what they saw in the blood,” Willis said. “This is not something where I’m too amped up and I don’t know where I’m at, and I’m running sprints up and down the parking lot.”
General manager Dave Dombrowski said he could not provide details because of privacy regulations.
* PEORIA, Ariz. ó Seattle’s Brandon Morrow confirmed what manager Don Wakamatsu announced earlier ó that Morrow will head back to the bullpen.
TENNIS
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. ó Andy Roddick moved into the fourth round at the Sony Ericsson Open with a 7-6 (9), 6-2 victory over Dmitry Tursunov. Seeded fifth, Roddick is off to the best start of his career this year at 25-4, and he leads the ATP Tour in victories.
The match forced the cancellation of plans for Roddick and tennis buddy Mardy Fish to play H-O-R-S-E against Dwyane Wade on the Miami Heat practice court following their workout Sunday.
“He can have his H-O-R-S-E title for another year,” Roddick said with a smile. “It’s disappointing, and it’s something I really looked forward to.”
Qualifier Taylor Dent upset No. 15 Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-3.
GOLF
PHOENIX ó Karrie Webb recorded a 5-under 67 on for a two-stroke victory in the J Golf LPGA International, her first win on the tour in two years.
* CAP CANA, Dominican Republic ó Keith Fergus holed out with a wedge from 95 yards for an eagle on the 17th hole and finished with a 5-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Mark O’Meara and Andy Bean in the Cap Cana Championship.
OBIT
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. ó Lou Saban, the well-traveled coach whose NFL and college careers spanned five decades and dozens of jobs, has died. He was 87.
Saban had heart problems for years and recently suffered a fall that required hospitalization.