Winning and James Return

Winning and James Return for Cavs

Even as a reserve, LeBron James sparked the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James, who missed five games with what the team described as a sprained left index finger, scored 17 points in 22 minutes in a 118-105 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers.

Cleveland snapped a six-game losing streak, setting season highs for points and field goal percentage (55).

James, the N.B.A.’s leading scorer who was injured Nov. 28, wore a protective glove.

Larry Hughes also came off the bench and scored a season-high 36 points, in only 26 minutes for Cleveland.

Mike Dunleavy led the Pacers with 23 points.

RAPTORS 100, HAWKS 88 T. J. Ford scored a game-high 26 points before he hit the floor hard on a flagrant foul late in Toronto’s victory in Atlanta.

Ford, who missed the 2004-5 season after neck surgery, was on a breakaway when the Atlanta rookie Al Horford’s hand hit his face. Ford landed hard, his head bouncing off the floor. Ford was conscious but did not appear to move before he was strapped to a stretcher and taken off the court.

Horford was ejected for the flagrant foul.

Marvin Williams and Joe Johnson each scored 23 for Atlanta.

WIZARDS 102, TIMBERWOLVES 88 Washington is down to nine healthy players, but six of them scored in double figures against visiting Minnesota. Antawn Jamison led the way with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Caron Butler added 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Wizards overcame a career-high 36 points from Craig Smith.

BULLS 123, SUPERSONICS 96 Ben Gordon scored 27 points, shooting 12 of 19 from the field, and Luol Deng added 20 for host Chicago, which earned its most lopsided victory of the season. The Sonics rookie Kevin Durant scored 16 points in 24 minutes, but he had little help.

PISTONS 113, GRIZZLIES 103 Chauncey Billups had 28 points and 14 assists, and Richard Hamilton scored 27 points for visiting Detroit. For Memphis, which has lost five in a row, Rudy Gay scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half.

TRAIL BLAZERS 97, JAZZ 89 Martell Webster scored 25 points for Portland, which won its fourth in a row but only its second on the road. The Blazers were without their leading scorer, LaMarcus Aldridge who has a foot injury.

Carlos Boozer led Utah with 29 points and 13 rebounds.

AROUND THE LEAGUE Boston center Kendrick Perkins may miss Wednesday’s game against Sacramento because of an injured right big toe — sustained, he explained after practice, when part of his bed fell on his foot Monday night. X-rays were negative. ... Toronto forward Jorge Garbajosa had surgery on his left leg Tuesday and must stay off the leg for at least 10 weeks. He broke a bone in his lower leg and dislocated his ankle while trying to block a shot in March