LeBron James (right) of the Cleveland Cavaliers puts up a shot over Jared Dudley of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 21, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. (AFP)

PHOENIX, Arizona, December 21, 2009 (AFP) - LeBron James scored 29 points to power the Cleveland Cavaliers past Phoenix 109-91 Monday, giving Shaquille O'Neal a triumphant return to the desert over the Suns team that traded him.

Mo Williams added 24 points while "Shaq" himself had only three points and five rebounds in 19 minutes for the Cavaliers, who improved to 21-8 to match Boston and Orlando for the most trumphs in the Eastern Conference.

Only the reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, with 22 wins, have captured more.

James scored seven points and Williams added six to spark a run of 15 consecutive points for the Cavaliers in the fourth quarter as the Suns went 6:13 without a field goal.

Canadian guard Steve Nash led Phoenix with 18 points while Amare Stoudemire added 14 for the Suns, who fell to 18-10 with their first home loss of the season after a 10-0 start against visitors.

No road team had won in Phoenix in 19 games since the Cavaliers did so nine months ago.

O'Neal helped the Lakers win three titles and brought another to Miami but could not lift the Suns to the top, Phoenix losing in the first round of the 2008 playoffs and failing to reach the playoffs last season.