EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., March 22 (UPI) -- LeBron James posted 30 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists Sunday and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat New Jersey 96-88 for their ninth straight win.
The Cavs upped their record to 57-13 -- 4 1/2 games ahead of Boston for the best mark in the Eastern Conference and 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the best record in the NBA.
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Zydrunas Ilgauskas tallied 18 points and Anderson Varejao had 16 for Cleveland.
Vince Carter scored 25 points for the Nets, who have won just twice in their last seven games. Keyon Dooling added 19 points and Brook Lopez 16 for New Jersey.
The Nets trail Chicago by two games for the eighth and last playoff spot in the conference.
