Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - LeBron James hit a stepback 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds remaining to help send the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 104-99 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
James finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 27 points.
Kevin Love posted 16 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland, which clinched the Central Division title and wrapped up the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed.
The Cavaliers have won four games in a row and eight of their last nine overall.
Michael Carter-Williams had 30 points and eight assists for the Bucks, who have dropped four of six. Zaza Pachulia scored 19 points with 10 rebounds and five steals.
Milwaukee trailed by as many as 15 in the third quarter before battling back to grab a 70-67 lead on a Khris Middleton 3-pointer. J.R. Smith countered with a 3 for Cleveland, which carried a 74-72 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Bucks went ahead 84-83 on a three-point play by Jerryd Bayless, but a Smith jumper ignited a 14-5 run that put the Cavaliers up 97-89 with three minutes to play.
Milwaukee made one last push, closing the gap to 99-97 on an O.J. Mayo jumper with 35.5 seconds left. After James drilled the clutch 3 from the right wing, Carter-Williams scored on a driving layup. Irving was then fouled and made both free throws to seal the win.
The Cavaliers shook off a slow start to build a 26-22 lead at the end of the first quarter. Irving powered Cleveland in the second quarter, hitting four 3- pointers and scoring 17 of his club's 26 points.
A 3-pointer by Love made it 61-46 early in the third quarter.
Game Notes
Tristan Thompson had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland ... The Cavaliers were outscored in the paint 52-36 by the Bucks ... Middleton scored 16 points.
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