Cavaliers escape Oakland with a win at the buzzer

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — LeBron James tossed up a rare airball from the top of the 3-point arc that showed he’s human. Then he quickly returned to his typical self.

James stepped back under pressure from Ronny Turiaf and knocked down a 19-footer to barely beat the final buzzer, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a wild 106-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.

“It’s a great feeling, especially when you get it like that and then you hear the horn and the shot goes in and there’s no way they can try to make a comeback at us,” James said. “I wish everyone could get that type of feeling. It’s unbelievable.”

James finished with 32 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocked shots, but also missed three second-half free throws and went 10-for-16 from the line.

His teammates jumped up and down in delight when the ball went through, then the officials gathered to review the play before ruling his shot beat the buzzer.

Stephen Jackson hit a go-ahead 22-foot jumper over James with 6.4 seconds left and finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for Golden State. The Warriors also lost at the buzzer Wednesday night against Oklahoma City.

Golden State’s Monta Ellis scored 20 points in his season debut and return from an ankle injury. He did his best to upstage LeBron, but to no avail.

“That’s not the first time he’s hit a buzzer-beater to hurt people at their own place,” Jackson said. “That’s what he does. That’s why he’s one of the best in the league.”

The game featured 27 lead changes and 15 ties — 10 lead changes alone in the fourth quarter.

Ellis made a powerful one-handed dunk with 6:54 left put Golden State ahead and showed he indeed is healthy after a left ankle injury had sidelined him so far. Ellis’ basket with 1:51 to go made it 97-96, then Daniel Gibson hit a 3-pointer on the other end. Ellis then converted a pair of free throws at 1:17 to tie it at 99.

James followed by missing a layup and Jackson made two free throws at 1:04. Mo Williams hit a baseline 3 with 51.2 seconds left, only to see Jackson answer.