CLEVELAND – LeBron James scored 37 points – 27 after halftime – and the Cleveland Cavaliers had one of their best performances since the All-Star break, a 91-72 win over the Chicago Bulls.

James scored eight points, including two on a ridiculous dunk, as the Cavs opened the fourth with 11 straight points to go up by 14. He had 16 points in the fourth, capping his night with a long 3-pointer with 19 seconds left.

Playing all but 1 minute, 33 seconds, James added nine rebounds and seven assists as Cleveland went 4-0 against Chicago this season. It’s the first time the Cavs swept a season series against the Bulls since going 3-0 in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season.

Drew Gooden added 13 points and 11 rebounds and Anderson Varejao added 13 boards for Cleveland.

Ben Gordon had 17 points, and Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng 15 apiece for the Bulls.

After blowing a 25-point lead in a win at Chicago last week, once the Cavs finally opened a sizable advantage they never gave it back. Cleveland was only up 63-60 entering the fourth before their 11-0 burst.

The Bulls closed within eight, but Eric Snow hit a baseline jumper and Flip Murray buried a 3-pointer to make it 79-66 with 4:55 remaining.

James fed Donyell Marshall for nearly identical 3-pointers from the corner late in the third period as the Cavs pushed their lead to 63-60 entering the fourth.

On Cleveland’s second possession of the final period, Marshall hit another 3 from the same spot to put the Cavs ahead by eight. Then, James knifed between two defenders near the foul line, blasted down the lane and dunked to make it 70-60 with 10:33 left.

Led by Darius Songaila’s 14 points and 56 percent shooting from the floor, the Bulls led 42-40 at halftime. But Songaila didn’t score in the second half and Chicago cooled off, too, going just 12-of-33 in the second half.

The first LeBron-leave-you-shaking-your-head moment came in the second quarter when he sprinted down the right side, filled the lane and soared for an alley-oop pass from Snow for a ferocious two-handed slam.

Notes: James, one of 23 players selected Sunday to try out for the U.S. team for this year’s world championships and 2008 Beijing Games, had trouble remembering the last time he had to make a team. “Sixth grade, I think,” he said. James played on the 2004 team in Athens which settled for a bronze. He said a three-summer commitment is worth every second to re-establish America’s supremacy in hoops. “It’s not like we’re giving up three years,” he said. “Plus, we’ve got some unfinished business.” … Bulls F Malik Allen was inactive with a sprained neck that has been bothering him for more than a week. Nocioni started in his place, but was on the bench in early foul trouble. … Cavs coach Mike Brown (36) and Bulls coach Scott Skiles (42) both celebrated their birthdays. … Bulls C Luke Schenscher, who signed a 10-day contract earlier in the day, had a No. 54 on the back of his jersey but not his last name.

AP-ES-03-05-06 2216EST