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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Cleveland star LeBron James scored a season-high 40 points to help the Cavaliers rally for a 105-95 NBA triumph over Indiana on Friday.
James added nine rebounds and seven assists for the Cavs, who handed the Pacers their second straight defeat.
Cleveland center Shaquille O'Neal missed his fourth straight game with a strained right shoulder.
He didn't travel with the team, and Cleveland coach Mike Brown didn't give a timetable for his return.
In his absence, James started strong, making his first eight shots and not missing a field goal until the last three minutes of the first half.
James had 22 points and five assists in the first half as the Cavs took a 66-61 lead at the interval.
The Pacers shot 63 per cent in the first half, but were outscored at the free-throw line 15-8.
The Pacers took the lead for the first time - 70-68 - when James was whistled for goaltending on a shot by Roy Hibbert with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter.
It was part of a 17-2 scoring run that saw the Pacers build a 78-68 lead. Indiana led 82-77 going into the final period.
Cleveland knotted the score at 82 on a three-pointer by Jamario Moon early in the fourth, and the game stayed competitive until the final minutes.
James helped seal the Pacers' fate with a three-pointer over Dahntay Jones that gave the Cavaliers a 101-94 lead with 53 seconds remaining.
Jones had 17 points for the Pacers, while Danny Granger had 19 with nine rebounds.
Pacers coach Jim O'Brien was thrown out of the game with 5:20 left in the first quarter after drawing two technical fouls for walking near midcourt to argue with officials.
- AFP/yb
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