James scores 32 points, dominates late in Cavs’ 99-94 win over Pacers

James takes over late for Cavs

CLEVELAND — LeBron James had 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched their second straight outright Central Division championship and third in team history, beating Indiana 99-94 on Wednesday night.

Cleveland (54-15) is the first team this season to clinch its division.

After Cleveland’s 18-point lead was cut to one, James had six points, two blocks, two steals and an assist in the final 4 minutes, including a nifty dunk behind his head after catching an alley-oop pass from Anderson Varejao. James fell a rebound and an assist shy of his second triple-double in two nights.

Troy Murphy had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Roy Hibbert had 20 points for the Pacers, who were without leading scorer Danny Granger. Granger, averaging 23.1 points a game, did not make the trip after spending the night in an Indianapolis hospital Tuesday. He took an inadvertent elbow to his upper right cheek in the final minute Tuesday night against Charlotte. CT scans on his head and neck found no problems.

Coach Jim O’Brien is hopeful Granger can return quickly, particularly because Indiana’s injury list is growing. T.J. Ford has missed the last three games with a sore groin, Tyler Hansbrough has missed two months with an inner ear infection, and Jeff Foster is out for the season following back surgery.

The Pacers have lost 13 of their last 17, including nine straight on the road.

James had 14 points and seven rebounds in the third quarter as Cleveland used a 16-2 run to start the second half to open a 66-50 lead. But the Pacers fought back, pulling within a point on a basket by Earl Watson with 4:52 left.

James refused to let the Pacers take the lead, blocking Brandon Rush’s shot off the backboard on Indiana’s next possession. James got A.J. Price with another block off the backboard in the final minute to seal the victory.

Antawn Jamison had 17 points and nine rebounds, J.J. Hickson had 13 points and Anderson Varejao had 13 points for Cleveland.

Cleveland has won 16 of the last 18 meetings against the Pacers.

NOTES: Cleveland’s Delonte West returned after missing a game with a sprained left knee. … Shaquille O’Neal’s surgically repaired right thumb was heavily taped as he walked into Cleveland’s locker room prior to the game. O’Neal, who recently had a cast removed, declined to talk to reporters. He’s expected back for the playoffs. … Dahntay Jones started in place of Granger. … Indiana hasn’t won consecutive games since Feb. 2-5. … The Pacers haven’t won in Cleveland since a double-overtime victory on Nov. 3, 2004.