In brief: James’ game helps Cavs sweep Lakers

NBA: Cleveland showed its Christmas Day win over the Los Angeles Lakers was no gift as LeBron James scored 37 points, including 12 straight down the stretch, and the Cavs beat Kobe Bryant and the NBA champions 93-87 Thursday night at Cleveland.

J.J. Hickson grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds and Anderson Varejao made three free throws in the final 20 seconds as Cleveland swept the season series between the league’s top two teams.

Bryant finished with 31 points but was only 4 of 15 in the second half as the Lakers lost the opener of an eight-game road trip.

•Cavs’ Mo Williams out one month: Cavaliers starting point guard Mo Williams will miss at least one month with a sprained left shoulder.

Williams injured his shoulder in Tuesday night’s win over Toronto when he reached for a steal in the third quarter. He was taken to the locker room for an examination and treatment before returning to the floor and making a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

•Iverson voted to start All-Star game: Allen Iverson was voted to start in the All-Star game, while Steve Nash and Tim Duncan made late moves to claim starting spots for the Western Conference.

Nash passed the inactive Tracy McGrady as the second guard, while Duncan disappointed Dallas fans hoping to see Dirk Nowitzki start by rallying past the Mavericks forward.

LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the Feb. 14 game at Cowboys Stadium.

Georgia knocks off No. 3 Tennessee

Women’s college basketball: Porsha Phillips scored the go-ahead basket off a pass from Ashley Houts with 39 seconds remaining, then added two free throws that clinched No. 8 Georgia’s 53-50 upset of third-ranked Tennessee in a rugged Southeastern Conference showdown at Athens, Ga.

Houts led the Lady Bulldogs (18-1, 5-1) with 12 points and Phillips had 10, but this bruising game was decided at the defensive end. Georgia managed to win even though it missed 16 of its first 19 shots in the second half against the Lady Volunteers (16-2, 4-1).

Tennessee’s Angie Bjorklund (University High) scored eight points.

Roddick survives at Aussie Open

Tennis: Andy Roddick has advanced to the fourth round at the Australian Open in Melbourne today, beating Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Roddick broke Lopez in the third game of the second set and the ninth of the third set, clinching both sets without losing a point on his serve.

The 27-year-old American took a 4-1 lead in the fourth-set tiebreaker, set up match point with an ace and won two points later when Lopez hit a backhand into the net.

In women’s play, Justine Henin beat No. 27 Alisa Kleybanova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the fourth round, staging another memorable rally in her first Grand Slam since she returned to professional tennis.

Ovechkin-led Caps’ late rush beats Pens

NHL: Alex Ovechkin scored twice and the streaking Washington Capitals scored the final four goals to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 at Pittsburgh in the first game this season between two of the NHL’s elite teams.

Tomas Fleischmann scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and set up Nicklas Backstrom’s goal less than a minute later for Washington, which won its fifth in a row and eighth in nine games.

Williams, Edwards, Harvin miss practice

NFL: Just three days away from the NFC title game, the Minnesota Vikings’ injury situation isn’t looking any better.

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams and defensive end Ray Edwards missed their second straight practice because of knee trouble.

Blanton, Victorino agree to new deals

MLB: A person familiar with negotiations said the Philadelphia Phillies and All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino have agreed to a $22 million, three-year contract.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced. Victorino was eligible for arbitration.

Earlier, Joe Blanton agreed to a $24 million, three-year contract that avoided a salary arbitration hearing next month.

•Marlins finalize deal with Johnson: Pitcher Josh Johnson and the Florida Marlins have finalized their $39 million, four-year contract.

He was an All-Star last season, going 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 209 innings.

•Padilla stays with Dodgers: Right-hander Vicente Padilla decided to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers after his outstanding performance down the stretch last season, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $5,025,000.

•Dotel agrees to $3.5M deal with Pirates: Octavio Dotel agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the only club that offered him the chance to be a closer.

•Tigers slugger Cabrera treated for alcoholism: Instead of honing his swing this offseason, Miguel Cabrera focused on getting sober.

“My drinking was a problem, and I feel good without it. I feel like a new man,” he said.

The Detroit Tigers’ slugger spent three months in an outpatient treatment program for alcoholism following a much-publicized drinking binge during the final weekend of last season.

Hope Classic postponed by rain

Golf: Heavy rains forced the postponement of the second round of the Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta, Calif., wiping out a day of competition at the tournament for the first time in 30 years.

Alex Prugh (University of Washington/Ferris High) is in second place.