INDIANAPOLIS – Stephen Jackson scored 28 points, including 11 straight late in the fourth quarter, and the Indiana Pacers won their season-high fifth straight game by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-82 Friday night.

Jermaine O’Neal had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Anthony Johnson and Austin Croshere each scored 10 for the Pacers, who shot 52 percent and won for the eighth time in their last 10 games.

LeBron James scored 21 points on 9-of-25 shooting, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks for Cleveland, which lost to the Pacers for the 10th time in its last 11 tries.

Indiana took control in the second quarter with a 12-0 run. Reserve guard Eddie Gill had seven points during the rally, including a 3-pointer to start it, helping Indiana open a 47-33 lead. Following a pair of free throws by James to cut the deficit to 52-39 with 1:24 left, the Pacers scored six of the final eight points of the half to take a 58-41 lead.

Indiana didn’t let up in the third quarter, quickly extending its lead to 66-45 on a basket by O’Neal. Cleveland gradually chipped away at the deficit, getting it down to 76-61 after a three-point play by James late in the quarter.

The Cavaliers scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to pull to 78-65, but that was as close as they would get.

Notes: Jiri Welsch made his debut with the Cavaliers, entering the game late in the first quarter and scoring zero points in five minutes. Cleveland acquired Welsch from Boston on Thursday for a 2007 first-round draft pick. … Scot Pollard started at center for the Pacers in place of Jeff Foster, who missed the game with back spasms. … Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley missed the game with a bruised left foot.

AP-ES-02-25-05 2247EST