CLEVELAND (Reuters) - LeBron James scored 40 points and produced a spectacular fourth quarter as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Chicago Bulls 112-102 on Monday to seize a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
James added eight rebounds and eight assists while scoring 15 points in the fourth.
"(The Bulls) kept scrapping and every time they would do that (we) would hit a big shot," James told reporters after making 16 of 23 shots from the field.
"In Game One I was feeling out the defense too much and they were giving me the jump shot. I had to take it."
The score was tied 77-77 at the end of the third quarter before the Cavaliers scored five unanswered points at the start of the fourth.
The Bulls twice pulled within three points in the final few minutes but Cleveland responded with three-pointers from James and Jamario Moon, who finished with 12 points.
Joakim Noah scored 25 points and made 13 rebounds for Chicago, while Derrick Rose scored 23 and made eight assists.
Game Three is on Thursday in Chicago.
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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