CLEVELAND (AP) – LeBron James scored 32 points in his final game as a 21-year-old, Donyell Marshall scored a season-high 29, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Milwaukee 109-99 Friday night to snap the Bucks’ six-game winning streak.
Larry Hughes emerged from a shooting slump with 26 points for the Cavaliers, who blew most of a 21-point lead in the second half before hanging on to win their seventh in a row at home against Milwaukee.
Marshall made seven 3-pointers, including three in the final 8:11, as Cleveland improved to 13-3 at home.
Michael Redd led Milwaukee with 24 points, Mo Williams had 21 and Ruben Patterson 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who battled back and pulled within 93-89 on Williams’ free throw with 4:15 left.
But Marshall, who set the NBA record with 12 3-pointers for Toronto in 2005, drilled a 3-pointer, James scored inside and Hughes hit a layup to make 100-91 with 3:02 remaining.
After a basket by Redd, Marshall made another 3 and James scored on a drive before draining Cleveland’s 11th 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a 109-97 lead with 1:01 left.
Marshall scored 13 points – his combined total the previous five games – in the second quarter and matched his season high by halftime, helping the Cavaliers take a 60-40 lead at the break.
It was the 100th time James, who will turn 22 on Saturday, has scored more than 30 points in a game.
AP-ES-12-29-06 2217EST
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