Nowitzki scores 37 to lead Mavericks past Kings
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-23 15:26

Jones capped the decisive 15-0 run in the fourth quarter with three 3s, and finished with 15 points.

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, left, makes a pass under the basket around Chicago Bulls defender Tyson Chandler, right, during the first quarter. [AP]

Larry Hughes started and scored nine points for Cleveland after missing Wednesday's practice to tend to his ailing brother in St. Louis 錕斤拷 who had a heart transplant 10 years ago.

"Every family has something that they deal with," Hughes said before the game. "This is our challenge. ... We have to get through it and just try to stay positive."

After two free throws by Eric Snow, a steal and layup by James and a basket by Ilgauskas cut the Bulls' lead to 81-80, Jones went to work.

His 3 with 8:17 left put the Cavaliers ahead, and he hit another to make it a five-point game. Chicago's Chris Duhon then threw a bad pass, which led to another 3 by Jones that made it 89-81 with 7:05 left in the game.

Ben Gordon scored 22 points to lead the Bulls, and Andres Nocioni had a season-high 21 錕斤拷 including 11 in the third quarter.

However, the Bulls couldn't stop the Cavaliers from penetrating.

Cleveland was 33-of-41 on free throws, while the Bulls were 8-for-10.

Second to Detroit in 3-point shooting, the Bulls (12-13) hit just 8-of-21 against a Cleveland team that had allowed opponents to shoot a league-high 40.2 percent from beyond the arc.

After sitting out Tuesday's 105-92 loss at home to Charlotte with a right knee contusion, Luol Deng found himself matched against James. The thinking was the lanky, 6-foot-9 Deng could distract James on the perimeter and play a step closer to the rim, making it tougher for James to penetrate.

James blew by Deng for a two-handed dunk and hit a 3 over Tyson Chandler during a 14-point first quarter. James had 23 points by halftime.

With James on the sideline in the second quarter, the Bulls outscored the Cavaliers 15-7 during a 4:09 stretch to take the lead.

Ilgauskas lost the ball in the post, Chicago's Kirk Hinrich broke upcourt for a layup that increased the lead to 46-43, and Cleveland called time with 5:09 left in the half. James checked in, but the Bulls' run continued.

Gordon hit a 3 from the corner, and Darius Songaila added a jumper to make it 51-43. But the Cavaliers outscored the Bulls 14-2 the rest of the half, starting with James' one-handed dunk and ending with his 3 from the top over Deng.