Willian lifts lid on Mourinho tactics 47 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2015 FEBRUARY SATURDAY, SportsSports

CLEVELAND: Cavaliers’ LeBron James (right) dunks the ball in front of ’ Blake Griffin (32) in the first half of an NBA game. —AP Cavaliers advance, Hornets sting Wizards

CLEVELAND: LeBron James scored 23 points, Kevin spark late in the third quarter after Charlotte fell Love had 24 and the pushed their behind by 11. Lance Stephenson, Michael Kidd- NBA results/standings winning streak to 12 games Thursday night with an Gilchrist and Jason Maxiell added 11 points apiece for easy 105-94 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, who the Hornets (22-27). Charlotte 94, Washington 87; Cleveland 105, LA Clippers 94; Dallas 101, Sacramento 78; also lost their composure. Paul Pierce scored 19 for the Wizards. John Wall Portland 108, Phoenix 87. The Cavs built a 32- lead in the third quarter, had 15 points and 13 assists. Charlotte picked up its Eastern Conference Western Conference allowing James and Love to sit out the fourth and rest. defense in the fourth quarter, holding the Wizards to Atlantic Division Northwest Division With their longest winning streak since a franchise- 5-of-19 shooting. W L PCT GB best 13-gamer in 2010, the Cavs moved into first place Wizards guard Bradley Beal left in the first half with Portland 34 16 .680 - Toronto 33 17 .660 - in the Central Division. Cleveland was seven games an injury to his right big toe and did not return. He Oklahoma City 25 24 .510 8.5 behind Chicago when the streak began with a victory had one point in 11 minutes. Brooklyn 20 28 .417 12 Denver 19 31 .380 15 over the Lakers on Jan. 15. Boston 18 30 .375 14 Utah 17 32 .347 16.5 The Clippers were whistled for five technical fouls, MAVERICKS 101, KINGS 78 Philadelphia 11 39 .220 22 Minnesota 9 40 .184 24.5 NY Knicks 10 39 .204 22.5 including four in a contentious third quarter when Monta Ellis had 21 points and six assists to lead Pacific Division Central Division they lost their California cool and forward Matt Barnes Dallas, minus and Rajon Rondo, over Golden State 39 8 .830 - was ejected. Blake Griffin scored 16 points for Los struggling Sacramento. The Mavericks broke open a Cleveland 31 20 .608 - LA Clippers 33 17 .660 7.5 Angeles, whose subs made the score respectable in tie game in the second quarter when they made nine Chicago 30 20 .600 0.5 Phoenix 28 23 .549 13 the fourth. straight shots, including four 3-pointers, in a 31/2- Milwaukee 27 22 .551 3 Sacramento 17 31 .354 22.5 minute span as they outscored the Kings 22-6. Dallas Detroit 19 31 .380 11.5 HORNETS 94, WIZARDS 87 had a 37-20 edge in the second to take a 60-43 half- Indiana 18 32 .360 12.5 LA Lakers 13 36 .265 27 Gerald Henderson scored 27 points and Charlotte time lead. Southeast Division Southwest Division defeated Washington for the second time this week. had 16 points and 16 rebounds for Atlanta 41 9 .820 - Memphis 37 12 .755 - Henderson was 10 of 15 from the field as the Hornets the Mavericks. Devin Harris and JJ Barea each scored Houston 34 15 .694 3 beat the Wizards for the fifth straight time. Charlotte 15 points, and added 14. Dallas Washington 31 20 .608 10.5 Dallas 34 18 .654 4.5 won at Washington on Monday night, 92-88. coach chose to rest Nowitzki on the sec- Charlotte 22 27 .449 18.5 The Wizards have dropped five in a row overall. ond night of a back-to-back. Rondo (broken orbital Miami 21 28 .429 19.5 San Antonio 31 18 .633 6 Brian Roberts had 12 points and provided a huge bone) missed his third straight game. — AP Orlando 15 37 .288 27 26 23 .531 11