CLEVELAND — LeBron James piled up 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in just three quarters and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 121-98 win over the Washington Wizards, who watched troubled guard Gilbert Arenas leave them indefinitely on Wednesday.

Shaquille O’Neal added 17 points in 17 minutes as the Cavs posted a season-high for points and won for the 13th time in 15 games.

The Wizards ended a long, draining day with a lopsided loss.

They played for the first time this season without Arenas, who was suspended indefinitely a few hours before the opening tip by NBA commissioner David Stern. Calling the gregarious guard’s recent behavior “not currently fit to take the court,” Stern disciplined Arenas while he’s being investigated by federal and local authorities after admittedly bringing unloaded guns to Washington’s locker room.

Antawn Jamison scored 26 points and Randy Foye 18 for the Wizards. Earl Boykins started for Arenas, whose 22.6 points per game will be missed.
Hawks 119, Nets 89

ATLANTA — Jamal Crawford and the Hawks used one of their best shooting nights of the season to end a four-game losing streak and beat the struggling Nets.

Crawford scored 29 points and Joe Johnson added 20 while sitting out the fourth quarter.

The Hawks, coming off their worst offensive performance of the season, set a season high by making 13 3-pointers, including 10 in the first half. They made 57.3 percent of their shots from the field.

The Nets missed their first 11 shots and never led while falling to 1-17 in road games. They have lost 13 of their last 14 overall.

Yi Jianlian led New Jersey with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Devin Harris had 15 points and Brook Lopez added 12.
Raptors 108, Magic 103

ORLANDO, Fla. — Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh had 18 points apiece, and the Raptors nearly blew an 18-point fourth quarter lead before holding off the Magic.

Hedo Turkoglu added 17 points to help the Raptors win for the seventh time in their last eight games. They also got a boost with five points from Jose Calderon in his return from a hip strain.

Vince Carter’s dunk with 43.4 seconds remaining trimmed Toronto’s lead to two. But J.J. Redick missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds that could have tied the score.

Redick finished with 22 points, and Dwight Howard had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, who have lost three straight for the first time this season.
Hornets 97, Thunder 92

OKLAHOMA CITY — David West scored 19 points, Chris Paul had 14 points and 13 assists and the Hornets moved above .500 for the first time this season by defeating the Thunder.

A trip to the arena they called home for two seasons following Hurricane Katrina helped the Hornets improve their miserable road record. New Orleans has won back-to-back road games for the first time this season and improved to 10-5 since Paul returned from an ankle injury that forced him to miss eight games.

Paul served as a facilitator for much of the night but maneuvered into the lane and rolled in a layup with 11.1 seconds left to put New Orleans up 95-92.

Russell Westbrook missed an off-balance 3-pointer that would’ve tied it in the closing seconds.
Warriors 107, Timberwolves 100

MINNEAPOLIS — Monta Ellis had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes as the Warriors snapped an eight-game road losing streak with a victory over the Timberwolves.

Ellis entered the night leading the league in minutes played at 41.6 per game. Despite playing 45 minutes in a loss to Denver the night before, Ellis found enough energy in his 24-year-old legs to rise up and tip in a missed 3-pointer by Anthony Morrow with 1:05 to go that put the game out of reach.

Corey Maggette had 28 points and Stephen Curry added 16 before fouling out for the Warriors, who had not won a road game since Dec. 9 at New Jersey.

Al Jefferson had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Wolves, who have lost five in a row.

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