NEW YORK (AP) – LeBron James and Kyrie Irving each scored 18 points, J.R. Smith had 17 and hooked up with Iman Shumpert on a dazzling dunk in their return to the New York, and the Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Knicks 101-83 on Sunday.
James moved past Allen Iverson into 22nd place on the career scoring list, and added seven rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Love finished with 16 points and 16 boards, combining with James and Irving to outscore the inept Knicks in the first half.
Cleveland won for the 16th time in 18 games and got good performances from Smith and Shumpert, who were acquired by the Cavs on Jan. 5 and have helped solidify a team that was still below .500 shortly after the trade. The Cavaliers are 35-22 and have been untouchable since returning from the All-Star break, hammering Washington by 38 on Friday night and leading this one by 30.
Shumpert came off the bench for four points, five rebounds and seven assists, one of them when Smith jumped to catch his lob pass and slammed it down with his back to the basket. The two guards hugged, and Smith jumped into James’ arms heading back to the bench.
Langston Galloway scored 13 points for the Knicks. They have lost seven straight to drop to 10-45.
HAWKS 97, BUCKS 86
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Paul Millsap had 23 points and 16 rebounds, Kyle Korver added 12 points and Atlanta beat Milwaukee to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season.
Korver hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter after Atlanta squandered an early 16-point lead.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton each had 19 points for Milwaukee. The Bucks had won four straight.
PISTONS 106, WIZARDS 89
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 26 points, Andre Drummond added 18 points and 16 rebounds and new-look Detroit beat Washington.
The Pistons are 2-0 since coach and president Stan Van Gundy traded four players to get Reggie Jackson and Tayshaun Prince at the trading deadline Thursday. Greg Monroe had 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Jackson finished with 17 points as Detroit put seven players in double figures.
Marcin Gortat had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards.
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