Roundup: LeBron, Cavs prevail after Lakers turn passive in final seconds

By BEE NEWS SERVICES

last updated: January 28, 2008 01:58:42 AM

LOS ANGELES -- The final seconds ticked away, with the Los Angeles Lakers needing a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.

That shot was never even attempted in the Lakers' 98-95 loss.

After LeBron James (41 points) made two free throws with 9 seconds left to give Cleveland a three-point lead, the Lakers' Luke Walton passed up a 3-pointer on the final possession, instead passing back to a double-teamed Kobe Bryant as the buzzer sounded.

"That's really what you want," Cleveland's Larry Hughes said. "You want to not allow Kobe to get a clean look from the start of the play, make those guys make a couple passes, which we did, and not let them get a clean look."

MAGIC 96, CELTICS 93, at Orlando, Fla. -- Hedo Turkoglu nailed an off-balance 3-pointer with time expiring to lift Orlando over Boston, which played without Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain).

SUNS 88, BULLS 77, at Chicago -- Leandro Barbosa started a 12-0 Phoenix run in the fourth with a baseline drive and two 3-pointers.

MAVERICKS 90, NUGGETS 85, at Dallas -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, most coming over the final minutes to lift Dallas.

TRAIL BLAZERS 94, HAWKS 93, at Portland, Ore. -- Brandon Roy (24 points) made the go-ahead free throw with 2.3 seconds left, and Portland erased a 19-point deficit.

JAZZ 97, ROCKETS 89, at Houston -- Modesto Christian graduate Chuck Hayes had six rebounds for Houston, which played without center Yao Ming (upper respiratory infection).

TIMBERWOLVES 98, NETS 95, at Minneapolis -- Minnesota's Al Jefferson had a career-high 40 points and hit the go-ahead free throws with 11.4 seconds to go.

BUCKS 105, WIZARDS 102 (OT), at Milwaukee -- Mo Williams (25 points) made two key 3-pointers for Milwaukee, which was without Michael Redd (left knee strain) and Charlie Villanueva (lower back strain).

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