CLEVELAND: Looking nothing like two-time defending NBA champion, the Lakers dropped their third straight game, a stunning 104-99 loss Wednesday to the Cleveland Cavaliers — the league's worst team, which avenged a 55-point embarrassment against Los Angeles last month. Ramon Sessions came off the bench and scored a season-high 32 points for the Cavs, who were beaten 112-57 by the Lakers on Jan. 11. That loss was No. 11 in a league-record streak that eventually reached 26 before Cleveland ended it last week with an overtime win against L.A.'s less-heralded squad, the Clippers. Pau Gasol had 30 points and 20 rebounds for the Lakers. Celtics 94, Nets 80: At Boston, Paul Pierce bounced back from one of the worst games of his career with 31 points to help Boston head into the All-Star break with the best record in the East. Pierce, who was 0 for 10 and had one point in Sunday's victory over Miami, scored seven points during a 16-0 run late in the fourth quarter as the Celtics turned a one-point deficit into a blowout. Brook Lopez scored 18 points and Devin Harris had 16 for the Nets. Heat 103, Raptors 95: At Toronto, Dwyane Wade scored 28 points, and LeBron James had 23 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Miami. Chris Bosh scored 25 points in his first game in Toronto against his former team, which lost for the 17th time in 19 games. Mavericks 116, Kings 100: At Dallas, Jason Kidd scored 17 points in the third quarter and Rodrigue Beaubois lived up to high expectations for his season debut with 13 points and six assists for Dallas. Magic 101, Wizards 76: At Orlando, Florida, Dwight Howard had 32 points and 10 rebounds for his 45th double-double of the season as Orlando won its second and fourth in five games. Nuggets 94, Bucks 87: At Milwaukee, Carmelo Anthony scored 38 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help Denver to a much needed win after losses in four of its previous five games. Knicks 102, Hawks 90: At New York, Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points to lead New York into the All-Star break with a winning record. Trail Blazers 103, Hornets 96: At Portland, Oregon, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 34 points to help Portland win its season-high sixth straight game. Clippers 98, Timberwolves 90: At Minneapolis, Blake Griffin stole the show in a matchup of All-Star power forwards with 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead Los Angeles past Minnesota. Pistons 115, Pacers 109, OT: At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Tayshaun Prince had 25 points and 11 rebounds as Detroit held on after blowing a 10-point lead in fourth quarter. Warriors 107, Jazz 100: At Salt Lake City, Monta Ellis scored 35 points as Golden State kept new Utah head coach Ty Corbin winless since Jerry Sloan retired. 76ers 114, Rockets 105: At Houston, Jrue Holiday scored 20 points to lead seven 76ers in double-figures as Philadelphia rallied from an early 12-point deficit to beat Houston.
