Cavaliers down Clippers for 12th straight NBA victory

LeBron James scored 23 points, Kevin Love had 24 in Cleveland Cavaliers' 105-94 win over the Los Angeles Clippers for their NBA winning streak to reach 12 games on Thursday.

The Cavs built a 32-point lead in the third quarter, allowing James and Love to sit out the fourth and rest. With their longest winning streak since a franchise-best 13-gamer in 2010, the Cavs moved into first place in the Central Division. Cleveland was seven games behind Chicago when the streak began with a victory over the Lakers on Jan. 15.

The Clippers were whistled for five technical fouls, including four in a contentious third quarter when their forward Matt Barnes was ejected.

In Charlotte, Gerald Henderson scored 27 points to help the Charlotte Hornets to defeat the Washington Wizards 94-87.

Henderson was 10 of 15 from the field as the Hornets beat the Wizards for the fifth straight time. The Wizards have dropped five in a row overall.

Paul Pierce scored 19 for the Wizards. John Wall had 15 points and 13 assists.

In Sacramento, Monta Ellis had 21 points and six assists to lead the Dallas Mavericks past the struggling Sacramento Kings 101-78.

The Mavericks broke open a tie game in the second quarter in a three and half minute span as they outscored the Kings 22-6.

Tyson Chandler had 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Mavericks. Devin Harris and J.J. Barea each scored 15 points, and Richard Jefferson added 14.

DeMarcus Cousin had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who have lost two straight and 10 of 11.

In Portland, LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 13 rebounds for his team-record 220th double-double in the Portland Trail Blazers' 108-87 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

Nicolas Batum scored 20 points and Robin Lopez had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers, who won their second straight after a three-game skid. Endi