Cavs nip Knicks, gain eight straight win

NEW YORK – Cleveland extended its winning streak to eight straight with a 90-84 victory at the New York Knicks on Friday, with LeBron James scoring 31 points for the Cavaliers.

The game was tighter than the six-point margin suggested, with Mo Williams only putting the Cavaliers ahead with his jump shot with 41 seconds left.

Cleveland lost its first game of the season but has won every match since and is two games ahead of Central Division rival Chicago, which also had a narrow victory against Charlotte.

Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook notched his second straight triple-double to lead the Thunder over still-winless Philadelphia, while Denver beat Houston and former teammate Ty Lawson.

Cleveland’s Williams scored his team’s final six points and finished with 20.

Carmelo Anthony scored 26 for the Knicks, but 22 came in the first half and his only field goal in the second half was a follow dunk as he was kept in check by James.

Chicago held off Charlotte to win 102-97, with Jimmy Butler’s 27 points leading the scoring.

The Hornets trailed for most of the fourth quarter but Jeremy Lamb scored eight straight points to pull the visitors within a point with 5:54 left, and they were still right in the contest with 27 seconds to go when Lamb’s 3-point attempt to tie the scores missed, and Butler hit a 22-footer to seal it.

Pau Gasol had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls.

Oklahoma City’s Westbrook stepped up in the absence of injured Kevin Durant and led the Thunder past Philadelphia 102-85.

Westbrook finished with 21 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and 11 assists for the 21st triple-double of his career. It was his third in his past four games against Philadelphia.

Dion Waiters scored 14 points for the Thunder, who won their third straight.

Christian Wood scored 15 points for the 76ers, who dropped to 0-9. Dating back to last season, the Sixers have lost 19 consecutive games.