EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets didn't have an

answer for LeBron James in the fourth quarter, and now they won't

have to answer any more questions about their NBA-best winning

streak.

James scored 18 of his 37 points in the final 12 minutes

Saturday to lead Cleveland to a 108-102 victory, ending New

Jersey's 14-game winning streak and leaving the Nets one win shy of

a franchise record.

James' effort came one game after he scored 21 fourth-quarter

points against the New York Knicks in a losing effort Wednesday.

This time, the Cavaliers ensured their 10th win in their last 11

games by scoring 12 of the game's final 13 points after New Jersey

took a 101-96 lead.

The tying points came on a vintage James move as he drove the

lane on a fast break with two players hacking at his arms yet

somehow managed to spin the ball off the glass. The three-point

play tied the game at 101 with 50 seconds left.

"By far, this is our biggest win of the year, especially the

way we played down the stretch," James said. "We won a big game

on the road. It was all about stops and making plays down the

stretch. In the last minutes, we were able to get out on the break

and we made our free throws. I think this was a game that had

playoff atmosphere, especially late in the game."

New Jersey was trying to become the first team since the Los

Angeles Lakers in 1999-00 to win at least 15 games in a row. The

Lakers won 19 from Feb. 4 through March 13, 2000.

Vince Carter, who was the Nets' late-game closer in many of

their wins during the run, scored 33 points for New Jersey but

missed three jumpers and a foul shot in the final minute.

The free throw may have hurt the most. Carter was fouled with

the Nets trailing 103-101 and missed his second free throw to leave

New Jersey trailing by a point. James hit two free throws to extend

the lead to 105-102. Carter got free at the top of the key for a

3-pointer on New Jersey's next possession but missed badly.

He had nothing but praise afterward for James, who remained in

the game despite picking up his fifth foul with 3:55 left.

"He's a great player," said Carter. "He shares the ball for

3½ quarters and in the last six minutes he turns it up. He's

phenomenal."

Five Cavaliers scored in double figures including reserve Larry

Hughes, who scored 15 in his third game back since missing 45 games

with a fractured finger. Richard Jefferson added 20 points and 10

rebounds for the Nets.

New Jersey missed a chance to gain on Miami for the No. 2 spot

in the Eastern Conference playoff race, falling three games behind

the Heat. Miami faces Washington on Saturday night in a game that

also has playoff ramifications for Cleveland: a Miami win will

clinch home-court advantage for the Cavaliers for the first round

of the playoffs.

Nets players insisted they hadn't paid too much attention to the

streak except when it was brought up to them. Now, they can

concentrate fully on preparing for the playoffs.

"It had to come to an end, sooner or later," said New Jersey's

Clifford Robinson, who scored 14 points in a reserve. "It's time

for us to bounce back and play hard against two potential playoff

opponents (Milwaukee and Chicago) on the road. We have to be at our

best once again."Game notes
New Jersey won 14 consecutive games in the 2003-2004

season, 13 of which came after current coach Lawrence Frank took

over for Byron Scott. ... Cavaliers C Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed his

second game with a left ankle sprain. ... Robinson's second

3-pointer in the first half moved him past Chuck Person for 18th

place on the NBA's all-time list with 1,221. Jason Kidd made one to

tie Latrell Sprewell for 27th place with 1,105. ... Carter extended

his club record of scoring at least 20 points to 20 consecutive

games. His personal record is 23, set twice while he was with

Toronto. ... The Cavaliers, who average 28 free throws a game, shot

22 in the first half and 41 in the game. ... New Jersey gave up

more than 90 points for just the fourth time since the winning

streak began on March 12.