CLEVELAND: LeBron James had 31 points and 12 assists and J.R. Smith matched his season high with 27 points in the Cavaliers’ 112-103 victory Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets pulled within 96-92 after the Cavs led by 21 in the first half, but Smith and Kevin Love each made key 3-pointers late in the game and the Cavs held on to strengthen their hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Love scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Smith made six 3-pointers on a day the Cavs were without Kyrie Irving to a sprained left ankle. They lead the Toronto Raptors by 3 1/2 games for home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs with five games to go.
Kemba Walker scored 29 points for the Hornets, including 15 in the third quarter when the Hornets chewed into the Cavs’ lead. Marvin Williams scored 22 points and Jeremy Lin scored 14 off the bench.