NBA Game Summary - Cleveland at New Orleans

New Orleans, LA (Basketball News) - LeBron James scored a game-high 44 points and Drew Gooden converted the game-winning three-point play as Cleveland overcame a 17-point deficit to claim a 109-108 overtime victory against the dismal New Orleans Hornets at New Orleans Arena.

James went 16-of-29 from the floor, including 3-of-10 from three-point distance, for Cleveland, which ended a two-game slide overall and an 11-game losing streak on the road.

It was the fourth time James has scored 40 or more points this season for the Cavaliers, who entered Monday’s action sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff race — 1 1/2 games behind fifth-place Chicago and one up on Philadelphia and Indiana. All three teams were in action on Monday.

With New Orleans leading 108-106 late in overtime, James drove to the basket and missed, but Gooden grabbed the offensive rebound, scored and was fouled. Gooden knocked down the free throw to give the Cavs a 109-108 advantage with 6.4 seconds on the clock.

Dan Dickau would miss a contested runner as time expired on the Hornets last possession.

"I think this was the most important game of the season for us," said Aleksandar Pavlovic, who came off the bench to score 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland. "We have to fight back and make the playoffs this year."

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 14 points and Gooden finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Leading New Orleans, which has dropped five of six games, was J.R. Smith with 22 points, while Bostjan Nachbar added 17 points off the bench.

Lee Nailon and Jamaal Magloire scored 15 points apiece and P.J. Brown had 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Dickau also scored 11 to go along with 12 assists in the loss.

After the teams traded baskets, New Orleans reclaimed the lead after Smith drained a three-pointer, but James answered with a triple on the other end to again tie the game.

The score remained knotted 106-106 with one minute remaining, before Brown hit a jumper to give the Hornets the lead, setting up Gooden’s heroics.

After playing a listless game for three quarters at both ends of the floor, the Cavs found themselves down 15 points entering the fourth quarter.

But Cleveland responded, opening the frame 10-of-10 from the field, including 5-of-5 from three-point distance, en route to outscoring the Hornets 38-23 in the fourth quarter to force the extra session.

The Cavs could have won the game in regulation, but Ilgauskas missed an elbow jumper, sending the game into overtime.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair before the Hornets closed the frame with a 6-2 spurt to take a 28-24 lead. On the strength of a 20-10 run to end the second quarter, New Orleans went into halftime ahead, 53-42.

Cleveland trimmed the deficit to four points five minutes into the third quarter, but the Hornets extended the lead to 78-63 heading into the fourth quarter.