Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James drives past Golden State Warriors’ Draymond GreenTony Dejak/The Associated Press
LeBron James says he isn't about personal statements. He made one anyway Thursday night.
James scored a season-high 42 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 110-99 for their 18th victory in 20 games.
James added 11 rebounds, outplaying fellow MVP candidate Stephen Curry and leading Cleveland past the team with the NBA's best record for its 11th straight home victory.
James downplayed any talk that the performance may put him in the lead for MVP consideration.
"That's not why I'm here," he said. "I've got to be the MVP for these guys, the 14 guys in the locker room. When I'm on the floor I'll try to do everything I can to help this team win."
The Cavaliers did get a bit of bad news. All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who scored 24 points, injured his left shoulder and didn't travel with the team to Indiana for Friday night's game. A team spokesman said Irving will have an MRI on Friday and is doubtful against the Pacers.
Irving left the game in the third quarter and went to the locker room, but returned early in the fourth.
Curry scored 18 points, but had only six after the first quarter and was 5 of 17 from the field.
"I hope it's not handed out on this one game," Curry said of the MVP talk. "I hope it's about the body of work. Tonight just wasn't my best game. Shots that I normally make didn't fall tonight."
David Lee led Golden State (44-11) with 19 points.
James was out with knee and back injuries when the teams met Jan. 9, a 112-94 win for Golden State. Although the four-time MVP hit 15 of 25 from the field Thursday, the back apparently is still an issue. James stretched out on the floor instead of sitting on the bench when he had a rest in the fourth quarter.
"It tightened up a little bit," James said. "It's a little tight right now. I'll get some treatment tonight and some more tomorrow."
Added Cavs coach David Blatt: "If he plays like that with a sore back, imagine how well he'll play when he doesn't have a sore back."
Kevin Love added 16 points for the Cavaliers.
If the matchup between the team with the best record and the hottest team in the league was a preview of the NBA Finals, the advantage went to the Cavaliers.
Cleveland, leading 61-56 at halftime, took control in the third quarter. James scored 12 points, including two 3-pointers, and found Timofey Mozgov for an open jumper to push the lead to 86-70.
"We're not going to win every game," Kerr said. "This is the NBA. I don't look at this like a plague or anything. It's just part of the grind of the season."
Kerr was given a technical foul in the second quarter and had to be separated from official Bennett Salvatore after Draymond Green was assessed a technical in the third.
The game was tied eight times and featured 12 lead changes in the first half. James scored 13 points in the first quarter and finished the half with 24. Curry made three 3-pointers in the opening period.
Curry missed Sunday's game at Indiana with a sore right foot, but returned to score 32 points Tuesday at Washington.
Green added 16 points for Golden State, but Klay Thompson was held to 13 on 5 of 13 from the field.
Centre Kendrick Perkins, signed by Cleveland on Tuesday, entered the game midway through the second quarter and received a loud ovation in his home debut. He committed two fouls in 2:13 and was pulled.
SUNS 117, THUNDER 113 (OT)
PHOENIX – Point guard matchups don't get much better than the one Thursday night in Phoenix.
Russell Westbrook got the triple-double, Eric Bledsoe got the victory.
Westbrook scored 39 points in his 12th career triple-double but missed what would have been the game-tying layup with 5.7 seconds left in overtime, and the Suns beat Oklahoma City 117-113 to snap the Thunder's seven-game winning streak.
"It was an epic battle," Phoenix's P.J. Tucker said. "They both played really well, we just came out on top."
Bledsoe just missed a triple-double with 28 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. He took 22 fewer shots than Westbrook and made one fewer basket.
According to information provided to the Suns by Elias, it was the third time in NBA history that opposing players totalled at least 28 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists in the same game.
Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks called Westbrook "as quick and as powerful as any guard in this league."
Westbrook missed his first eight shots and made 12 of a career-high 38. He was 1 of 10 from 3-point range, but scored 31 in the second half and overtime of his fourth triple-double this season.
"Honestly, I think I was actually shooting too much," Westbrook said. "I think I got to do a better job of trusting my teammates more. I am not saying I don't, but consistently trusting them regardless of what is going on, regardless of the time, score and possession. Just find a way to trust them and let them make some plays as well."
Bledsoe was the last Phoenix point guard standing after Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas were traded away last Thursday, and he's trying to assume a bigger leadership role, even with the arrival of fellow point guard Brandon Knight.
"I just tried to show a little more enthusiasm," Bledsoe said. "My teammates, they feed off of that. That's what my coaches have been telling me, that's what my team has been telling me, just step up and that's what I'm trying to do."
Markieff Morris scored 29 for the Suns, who pulled within 1 1/2 games of the Thunder for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Thunder were without Kevin Durant for the fourth straight game.
"They are a good team, even without Durant," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "They've got players out there that can really play. I just give them all the credit. I thought they played a great game."
Bledsoe's driving reverse layup put the Suns up 115-111 with 1:51 left in overtime.
Alex Len blocked D.J. Augustin's shot and Dion Waiters threw the ball away for the Thunder before Westbrook's drive cut it to 115-113 with 35 seconds left.
Serge Ibaka blocked Bledsoe's shot, resulting in a 24-second shot clock violation. Westbrook broke free on a drive to the hoop but missed, crashing to the court. P.J. Tucker's two free throws for the Suns completed the scoring.
Phoenix was playing for the second night in a row, winning at Denver on Wednesday, but there was no sign of a lack of energy.
Each team converted a three-point play in the final 20.5 seconds of regulation. Markieff Morris sank a 13-footer from the lane, was fouled by Andre Roberson, and made the free throw to put Phoenix up 109-106. But Westbrook drove to the hoop, scored and was fouled by Tucker. The free throw tied it at 109 with 13.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Suns couldn't get off a decent shot on their last possession and the game went into overtime.
"It's going to be who is making their shots down the stretch," Brooks said. "I thought they did a good job of playing their style and we didn't."