Los Angeles  - With the snow falling outside, the visiting Boston Celtics ran into a perfect storm inside.

LeBron James poured in 38 points, and the defensive-minded Cleveland Cavaliers extended their unbeaten home record to 19-0 by spanking the slumping NBA Champions 98-83 on Friday night, in a showdown between the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

"I think as an individual I played pretty well, but more as a team we came in with the mindset we were going to work hard," said James, who added seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks.

"We want to continue to defend home court and want to continue to get better. I think we got better tonight."

After sending their arch-rival Celtics to their fourth straight loss and seventh in their last nine games following a 27-2 start, James was asked if the resounding win sent a message that the Cavaliers are legitimate contenders for their throne.

"We're a confident team already, and it's not like it's the greatest win in our history," he said. "It's a big win for right now, but we still have bigger and better things. We still have to get better."

Brazil's Anderson Varejao scored 14 points and Mo Williams 13 for Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland (28-8) which shot 51 per cent from the field in the wire-to wire blowout.

"It was just like another game," Williams said. "It was just bigger than the other ones."

Cleveland led 49-40 at halftime behind 15 points from James. He added 13 in the third quarter as the Cavaliers opened a 72-60 advantage.

With James on the bench to start the final quarter, the Celtics drew to within 74-66. However, he returned with 8:27 left, and promptly scored eight points to spark a 9-2 run, that became a 17-5 burst, which put the Cavs ahead, 91-71 with 4 1/2 minutes left.

It prompted the delirious sellout crowd at the Quicken Loans Arena to chant 'MVP, MVP for their hometown hero.

Kevin Garnett had 18 points with 15 rebounds for Boston (29-9) which shot an icy 41 per cent from the floor. Paul Pierce struggled to score 11 points and Ray Allen finished with just seven.

"This is a tough stretch," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Maybe it's not all bad, but I don't like it. We're going to right the ship. When? I don't know."

Elsewhere: LA Lakers 121, Indiana Pacers 119 Kobe Bryant hit the game-winning jumper with three seconds left to cap a 36-point, 13-assist effort, lifting the Lakers over the visiting Pacers

Spain's Pau Gasol had 21 points with 11 boards for the Lakers (29- 16) who share the league's best record with Cleveland. Danny Granger topped Indiana (13-23) with 28 points and Troy Murphy had 24.

Miami Heat 119, Sacramento Kings 115 (OT) Dwyane Wade scored nine of his 41 points in overtime, and the visiting Heat handed the lowly Kings their 11th loss in the last
12 games.

Orlando Magic 121, Atlanta Hawks 87 Turkey's Hedo Turkoglu scored 21 points to lead six teammates in double figures, and Magic (29-8) raced to a 38-point halftime cushion en route to their 11th straight home win.

Detroit Pistons 93, Denver Nuggets 90 Allen Iverson scored 23 points, Tayshaun Prince added 19, including the go-ahead runner with 20 seconds left and the visiting Pistons rallied to snap the Nuggets' five-game winning streak.

Iverson was making his first appearance in Denver since being traded on November 3 for Chauncy Billups and Antonio McDyess. Billups led the Nuggets (25-13) with
30. points, but missed a potential game- tying three-pointer at the buzzer.

Milwaukee Bucks 104, New Jersey Nets 102 Michael Redd scored 24 points, and Luke Ridnour hit a floater in the lane with five tenths of a second left, lifting the Bucks past the visiting Nets.

Vince Carter had 23 points with 14 assists for New Jersey. China's Yi Jianlian scored 16, but left in the third quarter after breaking the pinkie finger on his right hand, that will keep him sidelined for three-to-four weeks.

Toronto Raptors 103, Memphis Grizzlies 82 Chris Bosh scored 32 points, and the Raptors handed the visiting Grizzlies their 11th loss in the last 13 games.

Philadelphia 76ers 93, Charlotte Bobcats 87 Andre Miller scored 22 points, and the host Sixers won their third in a row despite 24 points and 11 rebounds by Bobcats' Emeka Okafor.

Chicago Bulls 98, Washington Wizards 86 Ben Gordon scored 22 points, Drew Gooden had 16 with 11 boards, and the host Bulls beat the Eastern Conference-worst Wizards (7-28) despite a career-best 28 points by Nick Young.

Houston Rockets 98, Oklahoma City Thunder 96 Tracy McGrady scored 26 points, including two free throws with 8.2 seconds left, and the visiting Rockets ran their winning streak to 10 over the Thunder. Kevin Durant led league-worst Oklahoma City (5-32) with 27 points.

New Orleans Hornets 107, LA Clippers 80 Rasual Butler scored a season-high 27 points to lead seven players in double figures as the Hornets handed the visiting Clippers their 10th straight loss.

Phoenix Suns 128, Dallas Mavericks 100 Shaquille O'Neal scored 25 points, Jason Richardson had 21 and the Suns used a decisive 40-19 third quarter en route to their fourth win in the last five games. German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki topped visiting Dallas 22-14) with 19 points. (dpa)