CHARLOTTE, N.C. – LeBron James helped break the game open late in the second quarter by driving baseline for a windmill dunk, one of three crowd-pleasers among James’ 19 points in Cleveland’s 106-89 victory Thursday night over Charlotte.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the Cavaliers and moved them two games over .500 for the first time since 1999 – James’ freshman year in high school.

The Bobcats lost their fifth straight, as well as their composure.

Gerald Wallace, who committed a flagrant foul against James at the start of the third quarter, was called for a second flagrant as he attempted to block Drew Gooden’s shot with 8:35 to play in the third.

Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who has complained about the lack of respect the Bobcats receive from officials, stormed onto the court in protest.

He was immediately hit with a technical foul, and when Wallace lost his cool and the assistant coaches had to focus on him, Bickerstaff got loose under the basket to continue his rant. He, too, was ejected.

The Cavaliers led 64-51 before the drama, and pounced on Charlotte after it.

Jeff McInnis scored 18 points for Cleveland, Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 16 and Newble scored 11.

Spurs 88, 76ers 80

PHILADELPHIA – Tim Duncan scored a season-high 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to their fifth straight victory, 88-80 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.

Allen Iverson scored 24, Kyle Korver had 17 and Corliss Williamson added 15 for the Sixers, who set a dubious team record by scoring just 6 points in the first quarter.

Rasho Nesterovic had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Manu Ginobili scored 17 for San Antonio, which had lost four in a row in Philadelphia since winning on Nov. 22, 1999. The Spurs improved to 7-1, their best start since the 1991-92 season.

The Sixers, who trailed by 14 in the first half, took their first lead, 55-53, on a 3-pointer by Korver with 3:14 left in the third. Philadelphia held the lead until the Spurs went on a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter.

A 14-footer by Duncan gave San Antonio a 64-62 lead it never relinquished. Ginobili’s 3-pointer made it 67-62, and the Spurs held on down the stretch.

A three-point play by Iverson cut it to 82-78 with 1:36 left, but Duncan answered with a running, one-handed jumper from the baseline.

Philadelphia finished its five-game homestand with two consecutive losses after winning the first three games.

Spurs point guard Tony Parker was scoreless in 32 minutes, missing two shots and two free throws. He had eight rebounds and six assists.

The Sixers missed their first 16 shots before Korver made a short jumper with 4:30 left in the first quarter.

Iverson missed five shots during the 71/2-minute scoreless stretch, and Andre Iguodala missed a dunk.