Jamison, Irving lead Cavs past Rockets 118-107

[March 12, 2012]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- Antawn Jamison scored 28 points and rookie Kyrie Irving came through again in the fourth quarter, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 118-107 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.

Cleveland, which recorded a season high in points, had six players in double figures in winning its third straight game for the first time this season.

Luis Scola scored a season-high 30 points to lead Houston, which has lost six of seven.

Cleveland, coming off impressive road victories over Denver and Oklahoma City, has moved back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers also ended a four-game home losing streak.

While Jamison led the way by going 8 for 16 from the field, Irving again took over down the stretch. He scored 16 of his 21 points in the final 4:14. Irving orchestrated a decisive run in the final 3 minutes when Cleveland snapped Oklahoma City's 14-game home winning streak Friday night.

Cleveland scored 37 points in the fourth quarter while erasing a three-point deficit. Ramon Sessions scored 15 points, and Alonzo Gee, Daniel Gibson added 11 apiece.

Goran Dragic scored 20 points for Houston, and Chase Budinger added 16 off the bench. Kevin Martin, the Rockets' leading scorer with 17.4 points per game, was held to three points in 15 minutes and also sustained a strained shoulder.

Houston played without starting guard Kyle Lowry, who remains in a New York-area hospital with an illness. A team spokesman said before the game there is no timetable for when Lowry, who is averaging 15.9 points and 7.2 assists, will rejoin the Rockets.

The Cavaliers took control early in the fourth quarter as Sessions and Omri Casspi hit 3-pointers to help Cleveland take a 93-86 lead with 8:36 to play. Irving's three-point play pushed the lead to 101-93 with 4:14 remaining. The No. 1 pick in the draft added 13 additional points as the Cavaliers pulled away.

Cleveland built a 46-35 lead midway through the second quarter before Houston rallied. Dragic scored 11 points and Budinger added eight in the period to help Houston take a 57-54 lead at the half. Cleveland went ahead 66-61, but Houston regained control and took a 73-67 advantage.

Houston broke a season-high five-game losing streak with a victory in New Jersey on Saturday, but couldn't sustain the momentum. The Rockets finish a five-game road trip in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

NOTES: Lowry has been hospitalized since late last week with abdominal distress and fever. He was admitted after the Rockets traveled from Toronto to face the Nets in New Jersey. ... F Terrence Williams (stomach flu) was inactive for Houston. ... Cleveland coach Byron Scott had no update on C Anderson Varejao, who has missed the last 14 games with a broken right wrist. He hasn't played since Feb. 10 and the team said at the time of the injury he would miss four to six weeks. Varejao has been doing cardiovascular work to stay in shape, but it's unclear when he will return. ... Cleveland hosts Toronto on Tuesday. The Cavaliers have dropped both games against the Raptors.

[Associated Press]

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