Cavs stave off Warriors' upset bid

CLEVELAND — LeBron James had 31 points and 12 assists, J.J. Hickson added a career-high 21 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off a gutsy effort by the short-handed Golden State Warriors.

Injuries and illness left Golden State with seven healthy bodies, although the Cavaliers had their own injury concerns.

Jamario Moon left in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle, and Shaquille O'Neal and Anderson Varejao were both inactive for Cleveland. Varejao was scratched with a hip contusion and O'Neal missed his second straight game with a strained shoulder.

Monta Ellis led the Warriors with 23 points and reserve Corey Maggette had 19.

Golden State dressed the league minimum eight players, including Raja Bell, who didn't play because of a wrist injury that will require surgery next week. Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic were acquired from Charlotte on Monday for Stephen Jackson and Acie Law.

Radmanovic played 34 minutes, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds.

NUGGETS 130, RAPTORS 112: At Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points and reserve J.R. Smith finished with 29 for the Nuggets. After withstanding Smith's seven-game suspension and a six-game trip consisting of three back-to-backs, the Nuggets weathered a very determined Raptors team that was without forward Hedo Turkoglu (left hip) but didn't trail until midway through the third quarter.

LAKERS 106, PISTONS 93: At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points for the 100th time in his career, and the Los Angeles Lakers avoided a rare three-game losing streak with a victory over the Pistons. Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who took a 28-point lead before surviving Detroit's impressive fourth-quarter rally to avoid their first three-game skid in nearly two years.

THUNDER 100, HEAT 87: At Miami, Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Russell Westbrook had 24 and Oklahoma City added to its surprising start with the victory. An early 20-1 run put the Thunder in control, and a 14-2 burst in the third quarter helped seal it for Oklahoma City. Dwyane Wade finished with 22 points on 6 of 19 shooting.

SUNS 111, ROCKETS 105: At Houston, Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points, Steve Nash had 16 assists and Phoenix recovered from a slow start to get the win. Jason Richardson scored 20 points for the Suns, who have won eight of their last 11 games against the Rockets in Houston.