LeBron lets loose to halt Bulls' charge

LOS ANGELES - LeBron James scored 34 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers held on to beat Chicago 115-112 on Thursday, ending the Bulls' seven-game winning streak.

Cleveland, playing its last game before a highly anticipated NBA Finals rematch with the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, had to make do without ailing coach Tyronn Lue on the bench and without injured shooting guard JR Smith on the floor.

But in a contest in which the lead changed hands 26 times, James scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and the Cavaliers held on for a 12th straight home win.

Kevin Love added 27 points and seven rebounds for the Cavs.

Channing Frye, in the starting lineup in place of Smith - a late scratch with a sore knee - scored just two points.

But Kyle Korver contributed 15 off the bench and Dwyane Wade and Jeff Green added 10 apiece for a Cleveland team that has scored at least 100 points in 26 straight games and won 19 of its last 21.

Chicago's Denzel Valentine drove for a layup that cut the Cavs' lead to 113-112 with 14.3 seconds remaining.

But James answered with two free throws and, after a Bulls timeout, Wade blocked Kris Dunn's 3-point attempt before Valentine came up short on a 3-point effort in the final second.

Lauri Markkanen led Chicago with 25 points. Valentine added 18 and Nikola Mirotic scored 15 off the bench.

"We did some things tonight that were as good as any we had in the last eight (games)," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said.

"The seven wins and this one tonight, to be able to be in a one-possession game and (potentially) be able to tie it on the last possession shows the growth that we have had as a team.

"The last time we played Cleveland in our home building, they absolutely drilled us."

It was the Bull's first loss since welcoming Mirotic to the court this month. He had been sidelined by a concussion and facial fractures sustained in preseason when he was punched in the face by teammate Bobby Portis.

Isaiah nearing return

The Cavaliers are still waiting for offseason acquisition Isaiah Thomas to make his Cleveland debut.

Thomas, who has been recovering from a hip injury sustained last season with the Boston Celtics, has been ruled out of the marquee matchup against the Warriors.

But the two-time All-Star point guard is getting closer to a return to the court and warmed up with the Cavs before Thursday's game.

"I felt like a basketball player again," said Thomas, who was in uniform for the first time since he was traded to Cleveland.

Earlier in the day, Thomas took part in a full-squad practice with the Cavaliers'G League affiliate, the Canton Charge.

James described Thomas' appearance in the pre-game warm-up as "a building block".

"To have Isaiah out there in warm-ups with us, going through our (pre-game) prayer, going through our starting lineups with us, it's just another step in the right direction," said the 32-year-old superstar.

Agence France-presse