INQUIRER Sports

CLEVELAND ? LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this season Thursday, downing the reigning NBA champions 93-87.

The Cavaliers, who embarrassed the Lakers in a Christmas Day contest, saw to it that the Lakers' eight-game road trip got off to a rocky start, and spoiled any pleasure Bryant might have felt in reaching an NBA scoring milestone.

James scored 37 points, including 12 straight in the closing stretch, while JJ Hickson pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds and Anderson Varejao made three free throws in the last 20 seconds as Cleveland came out on top in a clash of the NBA's two top teams.

The Cavaliers were playing their first game without Mo Williams, the All-Star pointguard who is expected to miss at least a month with a sprained shoulder.

Bryant surpassed 25,000 career points in the first half, becoming the 15th player to do so.

Up next for Bryant at No. 14 on the all-time scoring list is Lakers legend Jerry West with 25,192.

But despite reaching the milestone, Bryant couldn't match James in the fourth quarter. Bryant finished with 31 points, but was only 4-of-15 in the second half.

The score was tied 80-80 when James drained a three-pointer from the left side. After miss by Bryant, James made another basket to put Cleveland up by five points.

James then hit another shot to make it 87-80 with 2:48 to play.

Ron Artest kept the Lakers in it with a three-pointer, and Bryant made two free throws and jump shot to knot the score at 87-87.

But James burst down the left side for a lay-up. The Lakers' Pau Gasol had a chance to tie it again but missed two free throws. After a Cavs timeout, James made one of two free throws and Varejao, grabbing the rebound on James's miss, was fouled.

Varejao made both shots from the line to give Cleveland a 92-87 lead with 20 seconds remaining. Bryant missed a three-point attempt and James saved the rebound before Varejao made one more free throw with four seconds left.

Cleveland's sweep of the season series could give the Cavaliers homecourt advantage if they meet the Lakers in the NBA finals.