NBA What's this? Cavs in first after four-year absence

Cleveland won its seventh straight in a game highlighted by a LeBron James dunk.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Everyone on Toronto's embittered bench had a nice view of LeBron James' jaw-dropping dunk. Back in his hotel room, an ailing Vince Carter probably even got to see a replay of it.
James scored 27 points, his final field goal coming on a ferocious dunk over Chris Bosh that sent the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 105-97 win Saturday night over the bickering Raptors.
"He didn't care who was in there," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said of James' jam. "That was pretty awesome."
Drew Gooden added 27 points with 15 rebounds and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 21 and 13 for the first-place Cavaliers, who made their final four shots and their last six free throws in the final three minutes.
But it was' James' dunk with 2:12 left that put Toronto away.
"That took the life out of them," Gooden said. "I knew he was going to dunk it. What did you think he was going to do?"
Cleveland, which won its seventh straight home game, entered the night tied with Indiana atop the NBA's Central Division. The Cavaliers are in first place for the first time since Dec. 19, 2000.
It's still early in the season, but James likes his team's lofty status.
"I'd rather be in first than last," said James, who added 10 assists and six rebounds. "It's good to get off to such a good start."
The Raptors played without Carter, who came down with food poisoning shortly after the club arrived from Boston.
Carter didn't come to Gund Arena to watch as his teammates tried to regroup one night after coach Sam Mitchell benched Rafer Alston and Loren Woods during the second half in Boston for picking up costly technical fouls.
Mitchell didn't start the pair, using Milt Palacio and Jerome Moiso instead. Alston led the Raptors with 20 points and 10 assists but had six turnovers. Rookie Matt Bonner had a season-high 17 points, and Morris Peterson 16.
Feuding Raptors
After Friday's benching, an upset and angry Alston threatened to leave the Raptors. But he and Mitchell have patched things up.
"He still has me on his Christmas list," Mitchell joked. "He's not on mine because he makes a lot more money than I do. Whatever happened on Friday night is unfortunate, but it's over."
Alston, too, said he has put the matter behind him.
"I'm not a guy who is going to quit," Alston said. "No matter what I say off the court, I'm a player. You don't want to be labeled a bad guy. I'm still upset a little bit."
Although they trailed throughout, the Raptors were within 91-90 on Alston's floater with 3:40 left. Gooden then scored on a layup before Toronto turned it over on consecutive possessions.