Cavaliers start slow, but finish off Dallas

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James ran over an unsuspecting referee. The Cleveland Cavaliers flattened another record.

James scored 24 points with 12 assists while orchestrating Cleveland’s show on and off the floor as the Cavs made more history with a 102-74 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, hitting the 60-win mark and extending their winning streak to a franchise record 12 straight.

The Cavs, who earlier this week surpassed the club mark for wins in a season, trailed 35-20 in the first quarter and 49-47 at halftime.

But Cleveland, flexing its defensive muscle, then outscored Dallas 30-11 in the third quarter, 55-25 in the second half and by an astounding 82-39 margin from the 10:13 mark of the second quarter on to improve to a league-best 35-1 at home.

“We just take care of business,” James said.

On the way to Cleveland’s largest margin of victory in 56 games over Dallas, James plowed over official Derek Richardson. He popped right up, but the collision knocked the wind out of the 6-foot-8, 260-pound James.

“Flagrant-2,” James said with a laugh. “They should have kicked him out.”

Cleveland is the 61st team in NBA history to win 60 games in the regular season.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 for the Mavericks, who came in with a three-game lead over Phoenix for the No. 8 playoff spot in the West. Dallas was held to a season-low in points.

“Every game’s tough,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. “This [Cleveland] is a championship-caliber team. You can’t have any letdowns at all. Our letdown in the third quarter really cost us.”

Mo Williams added 22 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskas 14 and Joe Smith had his best game since returning to the Cavs, adding 12 points with 13 rebounds. Smith also made his first 3-pointer since re-signing with the Cavs.

“Joe has given us a lift since he’s put on a Cavaliers uniform,” James said.

Jason Kidd had nine points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and volunteered to guard James in the first half.

“He almost had a triple-double in the first half, so I don’t know how much that worked,” Kidd said.

James fed Ilgauskas for three straight jumpers as Cleveland outscored Dallas 10-1 in the opening minutes of the third quarter. The Mavericks couldn’t get anything going and when James pulled up and knocked down a 3-pointer, the Cavs were ahead 71-56.