Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (right) defends against Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (left) during the second half of their NBA. The Grizzlies won 111-109 in overtime. (AP Photo)

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, December 8, 2009 (AFP) - LeBron James scored 43 points and grabbed 13 rebounds but the Cleveland Cavaliers came up short Tuesday, falling 111-109 in overtime to the Memphis Grizzlies in an NBA game.

Zach Randolph scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to pace Memphis while O.J. Mayo added 28 points and Rudy Gay contributed 21 for the Grizzlies, who improved to 9-12 but could not escape the Southwest division cellar.

Mo Williams scored 20 points and Shaquille O'Neal added 16 for the Cavaliers, who fell to 15-6 but still lead the Central division by 5 1/2 games over Milwaukee.

James was 14-of-29 from the field and 11-of-12 from the free throw line for Cleveland, which had won 12 of 14 prior games.

Howard, Nowitzki power Mavericks past Suns
DALLAS, Texas, December 8, 2009 (AFP) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 33 points and Josh Howard added 20 points in his return from a 13-game injury rehabilitation break to lead Dallas past Phoenix 102-101 in an NBA matchup Tuesday night.

Howard missed the first five games of the season for the Mavericks, played in three, then sat out the past 13 games to rehabilitate his left ankle after surgery.

His work seemed to have paid off as Howard scored 18 points in the second half, 16 of them in a 22-13 run over the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth.

German star Nowitzki added eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who improved to 15-7 to stay atop the Southwest division.

The Suns sank three 3-point shots in the last 47.9 seconds to keep the pressure on the Mavericks to the finish but still lost for the fourth time in five games in

tumbling to 15-7, second to the reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific division.

Steve Nash, a Canadian guard, led Phoenix with 27 points while Jason Richardson added 25 and Amare Stoudemire contributed 20 for the Suns.

Celtics beat Bucks for eighth win in a row
BOSTON, Massachusetts, December 8, 2009 (AFP) - Kevin Garnett scored 25 points and Rajon Rondo sparked a key fourth-quarter surge to power Boston past Milwaukee 98-89 on Tuesday for the Celtics' eight NBA victory in a row.

Rondo scored 11 points, all in the fourth quarter, passed out 13 assists and joined Garnett with nine rebounds each while Paul Pierce scored 15 points and Rasheed Wallace added 13 as Boston improved to 17-4.

The Celtics ended the game with a 12-3 run to break a deadlock at 86-86. Boston had two free throws and a basket from Rondo and a hook-shot hoop fromGarnett in a 7-0 run for a 93-86 lead that proved deceisive.

Australian Andrew Bogut led Milwaukee with 25 points and 14 rebounds while Ersan Ilysova scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Brandon Jennings added 17 points for the Bucks, who fell to 9-11 with an eighth loss in nine games.