CLEVELAND, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal scored 37 points and Gary Payton added 30 Wednesday night to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 111-106, overtime win over Cleveland.
O'Neal and Payton both reached season highs and proved too much for young LeBron James.
Returning from a one-game suspension, O'Neal made 14 of 20 shots as he overpowered Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Carlos Boozer. O'Neal made just nine of 20 free throws but sank a pair to tie it with 32 seconds left in regulation.
Payton made 12 of 20 shots, sinking clutch jumpers late in regulation and in overtime. He also did a solid job on James forcing him into an airball at the end of the fourth quarter.
Cleveland had won five of its previous six games to move into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
James scored 32 points.
