ATLANTA – LeBron James scored 25 points, including two dunks and a 3-pointer in a three-minute span of the third quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks 93-79 Tuesday night.

The Hawks scored only 25 points in the second half – 11 in the final period.

Atlanta had no answer for 7-foot-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who scored 27 points in the Cavaliers’ first win of the season. Atlanta dropped to 0-4.

The game was tied at 58 before James took control midway through the third quarter.

James made Atlanta’s Boris Diaw pay for a turnover with a breakaway dunk. Al Harrington answered for the Hawks before a baseline basket by Jeff McInnis gave Cleveland the lead for good at 62-60.

James then stole a Kevin Willis pass and scored on a reverse jam. James’ 3-pointer with 3:54 left in the period pushed Cleveland’s lead to 67-62.

Hawks center Jason Collier, who missed the previous two games with bronchitis, returned to play 12 minutes. Even with 19 points off the bench by Predrag Drobnjak, Atlanta still lacked an inside answer to Ilgauskas.

Antoine Walker led Atlanta with 22 points. Harrington added 14.

The Hawks set a season high with 31 first-quarter points and settled for a 54-52 halftime lead.

Cleveland (1-3) balanced James’ outside shots by passing inside to Ilgauskas, who scored 16 points in the first half, mostly from under the basket.

Hawks guards Royal Ivey and Boris Diaw fell into early foul trouble while trying to back up Willis, Drobnjak and Collier inside.

The Hawks were within six points at 78-72 with 7:30 left to play, but scored only seven points the rest of the way.

Notes: Cleveland was 29-of-36 from the free-throw line; Atlanta was 14-of-23. … The Hawks drew a sellout crowd of 19,624 for their home opener.