INQUIRER Sports

LOS ANGELES ? LeBron James scored 26 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers humbled the Los Angeles Lakers 102-87 Friday, home fans throwing items on the court and booing the NBA champions after the defeat.

The Cavaliers snapped an 11-game home win streak for the Lakers, whose brief rally late in the second quarter was the only meaningful solid stretch of play in a Christmas fiasco that dropped them level with Boston at an NBA best 23-5.

A showcase matchup of two teams that could meet again in June's NBA Finals was seen as a game to send message about which superstar-powered squad was the best. James and the Cavs clearly outshined Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

"It was a good performance by us," James said. "Defensively we did a good job not relying on just one guy to get it done."

Mo Williams scored 28 points and former Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal added 11 points for the Cavaliers, who left Los Angeles players frustrated, prompting technical fouls and physical fouls from the Lakers as they were outplayed.

Lamar Odom was ejected with just over four minutes remaining, prompting spectators to hurl the foam hand-shaped holiday giveaway souvenirs onto the court.

After 20 more seconds and another foul, more souvenirs and a water bottle were thrown onto the court as the unhappy crowd unleashed its frustrations.

The Cavaliers opened a 44-25 lead, hitting 64 percent from the field and holding firm on defense in the opening series and never letting the Lakers claw their way all the way back into the game.

"We were just covering for each other all night on the defensive end," James said. "We just slowed down and executed the right way."

Bryant scored a game-high 35 points but Ron Artest, humbled trying to defend James, managed only 13 points and Spanish star Pau Gasol added 11 for the Lakers.