NEW YORK—Kyrie Irving scored a game high 37 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers avenged an opening night loss to the New York Knicks with a 90-87 victory on Thursday.
LeBron James also had two clutch baskets down the stretch for the Cavaliers, who dropped a 95-90 decision to the Knicks on October 30.
The Cavaliers trailed for most of the second half, but James scored five straight points late in the fourth to help them regain the lead. Irving made a layup over two New York defenders with 10 seconds left and made it 90-87.
The Knicks decided to run a play to Carmelo Anthony on the game’s final possession. Anthony broke free from James’ defense and shot a three from the right side, but it failed to fall. Iman Shumpert tipped the rebound to Jose Calderon, who hit a three pointer but it was well after the final buzzer sounded.
Anthony finished with just nine points on four-of-19 shooting in front of a crowd of 19,812 at Madison Square Garden.
Irving made 12-of-18 from the floor, hitting 10 of 11 free throw attempts for Cleveland, who have won a season-high five consecutive games. James tallied 19 points and 12 assists, and Kevin Love finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Tim Hardaway came off the bench to score 20 points for the Knicks, who have managed just three wins in 19 contests since beating the Cavaliers in October.
Amare Stoudemire had 18 points and Quincy Acy scored a career-high 15 for the Knicks, who extended their losing streak to six games.
In Oakland, Stephen Curry had 19 points and a season-high 11 assists, Klay Thompson scored 23 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 112-85, for their 11th consecutive win.
Harrison Barnes added 17 points and 10 rebounds while Draymond Green had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Golden State, which improved to an NBA-best 16-2.
The winning streak matches the longest in Warriors history. The 1971-72 team also won 11 straight.
Golden State needed a late burst to hold off Orlando and keep the streak going earlier this week. The Warriors also got off a slow start against New Orleans before pulling away behind a 20-4 run in the second quarter for their eighth consecutive win over the Pelicans.
Anthony Davis had his 12th double-double for New Orleans with 30 points and 15 rebounds.
In Portland, LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points and 13 rebounds for this fourth straight double-double to help Portland win its third straight and 12th in its last 13, 88-82 over Indiana.
Damian Lillard led all scorers with 23 points for the Blazers.
Rodney Stuckey had 16 points for the Pacers, who have lost three straight to open a four-game road trip.
The Pacers tied the score at 64 early in the fourth quarter, but Portland built a 75-66 lead after Nicolas Batum’s three-pointer and Lillard’s jumper. Stuckey hit a jumper that pulled the Pacers within 83-80 with 53 second left, but they couldn’t get any closer. AFP, AP