NBA game roundup: James’ triple-double fuels Cavs

CLEVELAND — LeBron James had 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his first triple-double of the season and the league’s newest “Big Three” dominated in the second half of Cleveland’s 118-111 victory Monday night over the New Orleans Pelicans.

James and Kyrie Irving combined for 30 of the Cavs’ 34 points in the third quarter and the Cavs outscored the Pelicans 16-1 to end the quarter, turning a five-point halftime deficit into an 85-79 lead entering the fourth.

Kevin Love made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, including three within the first four minutes. Still, the Pelicans pulled within 101-99 on a layup by Anthony Davis, but Love countered with his fourth 3-pointer of the quarter and Irving completed a three-point play to extend the Cavs’ lead to 107-99 with 2:59 left.

Irving finished with 32 points and nine assists. Love had 22 points and five rebounds — the first time all three Cavs stars each had at least 20 points in a game this season.

Davis had 27 points and 14 rebounds and Ryan Anderson scored a season-high 32 points off the bench for the Pelicans.

Bulls 102, Pistons 91

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose returned with a pep in his step, Chicago had a full assortment of starters and Detroit didn’t have enough to keep pace at the United Center. Backed by Rose’s return from sprains in each ankle, Chicago led from start to finish and held on late in the fourth quarter to stave off an impressive comeback effort by Detroit.

Detroit cut a 19-point Bulls third-quarter lead to 78-70 starting the fourth and had it down to a two-point deficit with a couple minutes left to play. A baseline jumper by Pau Gasol (17 points, 15 rebounds) followed by a 3-pointer from Jimmy Butler (19 points) with 1:56 left sparked Chicago to close it out.

Rose led five Bulls players in double-figures scoring with 24 points and added seven assists in 32 minutes, playing for the first time since missing back-to-back games because of his ankle issues.

D.J. Augustin, who signed with the Pistons in the summer, led the comeback in the second half. He finished with16 points and hit a jumper that pulled Detroit within a basket.

Pacers 97, Jazz 86

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s six-game losing streak is over. Roy Hibbert scored 29 points, A.J. Price added 22 points and Lavoy Allen had several key offensive rebounds.

Indiana (2-6) had not lost six in a row since March 2011.

Utah got 30 points — 17 in the second half — from Gordon Hayward, but the Jazz (3-5) had no answer for Hibbert, Price and Allen, who finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Hibbert missed his regular-season career high of 30 points by one.

Hawks 91, Knicks 85

NEW YORK — Paul Millsap scored a season-high 19 points, leading Atlanta over New York at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks dropped their fifth straight game. Atlanta completed a home-and-home sweep of the Knicks. It defeated New York 103-96 on Nov. 8 in Atlanta.

Millsap was 6 of 14 from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the line. He had three of Atlanta’s seven steals.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 25 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Kyle Korver added 17 points and Al Horford contributed 12 points.