Cavs slip past Jazz, 107-104

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James’ three-point play with 28 seconds remaining lifted the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers to a 107-103 victory against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

James was 6 of 15 from the floor, but finished with 21 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Cleveland (7-3) has won four straight.

Shaquille O’Neal missed the game with a strained shoulder.

James’ basket and foul gave Cleveland a 103-101 lead. He made 4 of 6 free throws in the final seconds to clinch the win.

J.J. Hickson set a career high with 20 points and Mo Williams added 21 for Cleveland.

Carlos Boozer scored 25 points for Utah (4-6), which dressed just nine players for the second straight game. The Jazz were again without starting point guard Deron Williams, who missed his second game while dealing with a medical issue regarding his daughter.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan doesn’t know when Williams will rejoin the team. Utah’s next game is Wednesday at home against Toronto.

Hickson, who has started the past four games at forward for Cleveland, scored a career-high 18 points against Miami on Thursday. He surpassed that Saturday with a mixture of dunks, tip-ins and open looks under the basket.

Cleveland opened a 14-point lead at the end of the first quarter and led most of the night. Utah didn’t take its first lead until Boozer connected on a pair of free throws with 1:56 remaining.

Eric Maynor, starting again for Utah in place of Williams, scored a career-high 24 points. Okur, Wesley Matthews and Andrei Kirilenko each added 13 for the Jazz.

It was Cleveland’s fourth straight win against Utah and sixth straight at home. Utah hasn’t won in Cleveland since 2004.

In addition to O’Neal, the Cavaliers were playing without Delonte West, who missed his third straight game. West has been in and out of the lineup this season while dealing with personal issues.

Notes

Utah’s last victory in Cleveland was March 19, 2004. ... Cleveland entered having won 10 of its past 13 against the Jazz. ... LeBron James isn’t interested in creating a legacy with an original number. James, who wants to relinquish his No. 23 as a tribute to Michael Jordan, would likely wear No. 6 next season. He would be following another legend in Julius Erving, who wore No. 6 with the Philadelphia 76ers. “It’s nothing about who made it famous,” James said. “Six is just another number that I like.”