Cavs top Nuggets to end slide

James had his club-record streak of six games with at least 30 points come to an end, but the Cavaliers had dropped five of those contests. Cleveland showed far more balance this time around, with Zydrunas Ilgauskas contributing 16 points in his return from a sprained knee and three other Cavs’ players finishing in double figures.

Carmelo Anthony recorded 23 points but made just 8-of-23 field-goal attempts for the Nuggets, who shot just 38 percent from the floor and fell for only the second time in six outings. Greg Buckner and Earl Watson ended with 15 and 14 points, respectively, in defeat.

Denver played without center Marcus Camby, sidelined with a sprained right finger, while point guard Earl Boykins missed his second straight game with an injured hamstring.

The Cavaliers trailed 72-71 with seven minutes remaining, but Jones buried a three-pointer and scored off a Donyell Marshall steal seconds later to give the hosts a four-point lead.

Cleveland then began to pull away late, as a James’ layup and a Marshall three-pointer extended the margin to 83-76 with 3:45 remaining. Marshall sank another triple two minutes later to end a 13-4 run and put the Cavs up 91-80.

Back-to-back baskets by Ilgauskas sparked a string of 11 straight Cleveland points which snapped a 50-50 tie in the third quarter, but Denver answered with a 15-0 spurt, capped by consecutive threes from Watson, to go up 65-61 in the waning seconds of the period.

Both clubs had double-digit leads during a roller-coaster first half that ended with the Cavs on top, 44-40.

Denver opened up an early 17-7 advantage, with Buckner netting the Nuggets’ final seven points of that initial spurt. However, Cleveland would counter with a 10-0 run and drew even on a three-point play from James with 3:11 left in the first quarter.

James, who poured in 12 points during the opening frame, drained a three- pointer at the buzzer to put the Cavs ahead 24-19 at period’s end. A Marshall basket and Jones’ shot from beyond the arc extended the margin to 10 points less than a minute into the second quarter.

Denver then reeled off 14 straight points to move back in front. A layup and free throw by Andre Miller followed by Kenyon Martin’s dunk off a Watson feed gave the visitors a 33-29 advantage with six minutes to go in the half.

Cleveland, however, closed out the second quarter with an 8-1 burst, finished by Larry Hughes’ driving layup in the final seconds, to take a four-point edge into the break.

Game Notes

James left the contest with 29 seconds remaining in the first half with a shin contusion but returned after intermission...Ilgauskas sat out Tuesday’s loss to Atlanta with his injury...Marshall compiled 11 points and 12 rebounds in the victory...Cleveland has won eight of their last 10 meetings with Denver as the home team...Denver is 2-2 on its current six-game road swing which concludes with games at New Jersey and Atlanta...Anthony is averaging 32 points over his last four outings.