CLEVELAND, April 12 (UPI) -- LeBron James scored a game-high 35 points Thursday night to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 94-76 rout of New Jersey.
The Cavaliers had a one-point lead after the first quarter, and their halftime lead was only 36-34 -- but they blew the contest open with a 36-19 third quarter burst.
New Jersey got no closer than the final 18-point margin in the fourth.
Larry Hughes had 19 points and six assists, Sasha Pavlovic scored 13 points, and James also had eight rebounds and four assists for the Cavaliers, who secured home court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
They hold the East's fifth seed.
Vince Carter led New Jersey with 26 points and four assists. Mikki Moore had 11 points and five rebounds, Josh Boone scored 10 points, and Jason Kidd was held to eight points for the Nets, who fell two games behind Washington for the sixth seed in the East.
