James helps Cleveland knock off Portland

Drew Gooden added 17 points and six rebounds for the Cavs, who have won four straight. Eric Snow tallied 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field, as Cleveland used a 15-3 third-quarter run to put the game out of reach.

Zach Randolph had 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who have dropped three straight, including the first two of their current four-game road trip. Travis Outlaw had 16 points for Portland, which trailed by as many as 20 points in the game.

Cleveland led 24-18 after one quarter, but Portland went on a 12-4 run to start the second to open a 30-28 advantage following an Outlaw bucket less than four minutes into the stanza.

The game went back and forth over the next two-plus minutes until a Snow basket gave the Cavs a 36-35 edge and started an 11-2 run. Gooden and James combined for nine points during the surge, with Gooden capping it with a bucket with 2 1/2 minutes left until the break for a 45-37 lead.

Portland cut a 51-43 halftime deficit to 55-50 following an Ime Udoka three- pointer just under two minutes into the third. However, a 15-3 run by the Cavs over the next five-plus minutes put the game out of reach. James had nine points during the run, capping it with a three-pointer for a 70-55 lead.

The lead later increased to 79-59 late in the third before Cleveland carried a 79-61 cushion into the fourth and coasted to the final buzzer.

The Cavs are 6-2 this season and hold the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Game Notes

Cleveland has won five of six against Portland and three straight at home versus the Blazers...The Cavs improved to 4-1 at home...Portland fell to 1-4 on the road...Cleveland is 2-0 versus the Western Conference this season.