Cavaliers 107, Nets 87
CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 24 points to move into 12th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list and the Cleveland Cavaliers hammered the Brooklyn Nets 107-87 on Thursday.
James, who also recorded 11 assists, has 26,689 points to move ahead of Dominique Wilkins. He remains 21 points behind Oscar Robertson for 11th and can surpass him Friday when Cleveland plays at Atlanta.
"I've been very durable throughout my career and I've played with some great teammates and two great organizations all my career that allowed me to put the ball in the basket," James said of moving up the scoring list. "They've set screens for me, they gave me passes in transition, they set me up offensively and I've been able to come through for my teammates, so this results in that being the case."
Kevin Love had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Channing Frye scored 13 points off the bench for the Cavaliers, who lost to the Nets last weekend on the road.
Cleveland moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the idle Toronto Raptors for home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Kyrie Irving scored 10 points and J.R. Smith had eight after both missed the morning shootaround and were considered questionable because they were sick.
The Cavaliers outscored the Nets 25-6 when James re-entered the game in the second quarter to extend their lead to 63-39 at the break. They led by as many as 32 in the second half, allowing James and the rest of the starters to sit for the fourth quarter.
Thaddeus Young had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Nets, while Bojan Bogdanovic had 14 points and five rebounds. Shane Larkin had 13 points and eight assists.
The Nets rested starters Brook Lopez and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Brooklyn has lost its last eight road games with their last victory away from home March 4 in Denver.
NOTES: Cavs G Kyrie Irving addressed his personal life on social media late Wednesday night, writing that his relationship with R&B singer Kehlani was over before her ex-boyfriend posted pictures of them together again. Irving did not speak to reporters before the game. "He's got my support," Cavs F LeBron James said, referring to Irving's situation. "And he knows it." ... Nets C Brook Lopez and SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were given the night off to rest. Former Cavs Henry Sims and Wayne Ellington started in place of them. It was Sims' first start of the season. He is on his second 10-day contract with the Nets. ... The Nets' last win in Cleveland was April 3, 2012. They entered riding a five-game losing streak at Quicken Loans Arena.