Cavs make it 4 straight wins against Warriors

[February 04, 2010]  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- LeBron James had 37 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers ran their winning streak against Golden State to four with a 117-114 victory over the Warriors on Monday night.

Shaquille O'Neal added 13 points and six rebounds and three Cleveland reserves scored in double digits as well in the Cavs' fourth straight win at Oracle Arena.

After a victory at Portland on Sunday, the Cavaliers won playing on consecutive nights for the sixth time in 11 tries this season but had to hold off a late rally by the Warriors in this one.

Monta Ellis had a steal and quick baseline 3-pointer with 57.9 seconds left to pull Golden State within 115-112, then James answered on the other end. Stephen Curry's layup for Golden State moments later again made it a three-point game and James missed a 3 on the other end with 5.3 seconds left. Curry's desperation 3 from 34 feet at the buzzer was short.

Ellis, trying to make a push for the Warriors' first All-Star nod since Latrell Sprewell in 1997, scored 30 points to go with five assists and five steals, but missed 11 straight shots during a stretch spanning the second and third quarters. Corey Maggette added 32 points and seven rebounds for Golden State, which was denied its first three-game winning streak of the season.

The Warriors were inconsistent playing in front of potential future owner and Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, who sat courtside in the building boasting his company's name. Ellison has expressed interest in buying an NBA franchise and there's talk he could be the owner-in-waiting if current top man Chris Cohan eventually decides to sell.

Ellison's party was flanked by at least two arena security personnel. One fan in the upper area of the lower level held a sign reading, "Dear Larry Ellison, please buy this team. Thanks, the Warriors fans."

James shot 12 for 23 a night after he went 13 of 19 with 41 points in a 106-94 win at Portland and also had 10 rebounds and eight assists. For the second straight game, he wore one blue shoe and one orange shoe to go with Cleveland's throwback jerseys.

Until the final minute, the closest the Warriors got in the fourth quarter was six points at 98-92 with 8:39 to play.

O'Neal threw down a powerful dunk with 6:22 left in the third quarter and tiny Curry fouled him from behind, then O'Neal stared down Curry for several moments as the teams headed into a timeout. After the break, O'Neal gave Curry another look just before shooting the ensuing free throw, which he bricked.

Cleveland opened the game by hitting five of its first six shots, getting two quick baskets by Shaq.

Cavs coach Mike Brown is being strategic about how much he plays O'Neal to make sure the 37-year-old big man is fresh come playoff time. He was averaging 22.3 minutes over his previous five outings.

"He's a little older now," Brown said. "The more we can save his legs in the regular season, the better. He's highly effective for us."

The Warriors lost starting center Ronny Turiaf to a right ankle injury with 3:44 left in the second quarter. X-rays were negative.

NOTES: James was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, his third such honor this season and the 23rd of his career. In three games last week, he averaged 33 points on .542 shooting, 7.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 39.1 minutes. ... Golden State will be without injured F Anthony Randolph for perhaps two months or longer. Hurt in Friday's win over Sacramento, Randolph underwent an MRI exam Monday on his injured left ankle that revealed a tear of two outside ligaments in the ankle and a sprain in another ligament. He also has an avulsion fracture where the muscle pulled away from a piece of bone, which had prior damage from a previous sprain. The Warriors added some depth by signing G/F Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract Sunday, calling him up from the Development League.

[Associated Press; By JANIE McCAULEY]

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