LeBron scores 44, wows Suns

In 6 shining seconds, LeBron James made a block at one end, a dunk at the other and left a lasting memory of greatness.

“It was unbelievable,” said Phoenix guard Leandro Barbosa.

James scored 32 of his 44 points in the second half, and brought Cleveland back almost all by himself as the Cavaliers rallied for their fifth straight win, 113-106 over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday in Cleveland.

James added 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Cavs, who trailed by 17 midway through the third quarter when their third-year superstar took control of the game.

And, in a stirring 6-second sequence of the fourth, James made one of the best plays of this NBA season – or any other.

First, he hustled back on defense and blocked a floating layup by the speedy Barbosa, whose shot would have tied it. Then, James quickly retrieved the ball, sped down the floor, eluded Boris Diaw with a head fake and delivered a vicious, right-handed dunk that gave the Cavaliers a 97-93 lead.

Two plays. Six seconds. Over 100 feet. Thousands of dropped jaws.

“He made a million highlights in a very short time,” said reigning league MVP Steve Nash, who led Phoenix with 24 points.

“That play was very key,” James said of the block. “I just wanted to make a play to try and take the life out of them a little bit.”

Even more than one-half hour following the game, Barbosa got wide-eyed as he tried to describe how James ran him down from behind.

“I never saw him,” said Barbosa, who started for the injured Raja Bell. “I asked coach, ‘How did he do that?’ My teammates said I was dribbling like crazy and he still caught me. All of a sudden, he’s at the other end.”

Heat 101, Rockets 95: At Houston, Dwyane Wade had 32 points and nine assists to lead Miami to a win over the Rockets.

Shaquille O’Neal added 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Heat, who’ve won eight of their past 11. O’Neal also hit a season-high 12 free throws.

Tracy McGrady scored 37 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had six assists for the Rockets.

Sixers 89, Magic 81: At Orlando, Fla., Chris Webber scored 18 points and John Salmons added 17 to help Philadelphia beat the Magic.

The 76ers played without Allen Iverson, who missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Steve Francis had a triple-double for the Magic with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Raptors 124, Kings 123 (OT): At Toronto, Jalen Rose’s jumper with 0.4 seconds left in overtime gave the Raptors a victory over Sacramento.

Mike Bibby had 42 points and Ron Artest had 24 in his second game with Sacramento, but Rose ended Toronto’s four-game losing streak with his clutch shot.

Bucks 83, Celtics 79: At Milwaukee, Michael Redd overcame a slow start to score 15 fourth-quarter points, leading the Bucks to a win over Boston.