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NBA : James wins battle of superstars

Kobe Bryant, left, is pressured by Cleveland's LeBron James, center.Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Kobe Bryant, left, is pressured by Cleveland's LeBron James, center.Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The two superstars wanted to guard each other in the final moments: Kobe Bryant on LeBron James. James on Bryant.

It had to end like that.

“I didn’t even ask,” James said. “I just told Sasha (Pavlovic) to go somewhere else.”

James scored 33 points and shut out Bryant when the NBA’s top two scorers went 1-on-1 in the final 2:23 and the host Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from a dismal loss with a 94-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

James added 10 rebounds and five assists. But it was his pressure on Bryant in the final minutes that helped the Cavs recover from a 108-90 loss at New York on Wednesday night.

James relished the chance to match up with a player he believes is the league’s best with the ball.

“If you want to win, you have to be able to defend the best player,” James said. “I think we both took on the challenge.”

Bryant finished with 21 points, but missed two shots with James chasing him and the Lakers went 0 for 8 from the floor in the final 4 minutes.

Nuggets 112, Rockets 111 (2OT): At Denver, Anthony Carter hit a floater in the lane with 0.8 seconds left in the second overtime to give the Nuggets a win over Houston.

Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, and Allen Iverson had 36 points and nine assists for Denver, which ended a two-game losing streak.

Nets 107, Heat 103 (OT): At Miami, Vince Carter scored 31 points, Richard Jefferson added 29 and New Jersey overcame a seven-point deficit late in regulation before beating Miami in overtime.

Stuckey cleared to play

Rookie guard Rodney Stuckey was cleared to practice and play with the Detroit Pistons, nearly two months after undergoing hand surgery.

The former Eastern Washington standout was primed to play a key role for the Eastern Conference power, primarily backing up point guard Chauncey Billups.

“Alonzo Mourning had surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and a quadriceps tear in the same leg. The injury, which he suffered Wednesday against Atlanta, will probably keep Mourning out the rest of the season.