LeBron James scored 32 points, notched a career-high 17 assists and forced overtime with a stunning 3-pointer as his Cleveland Cavaliers beat the surging Washington Wizards 140-135 in an NBA thriller.
James fouled out early in overtime but enjoyed watching on as co-star Kyrie Irving took over, scoring scored 11 of his 23 points in the extra period including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 35 seconds left amid a playoff-type atmosphere in Washington on Monday night.
The sellout crowd was standing, and so were the players on both benches, when James somehow missed a gimme layup late in the fourth quarter.
Moments later, he banked in a maximum-degree-of-difficulty, step-back 3 with 0.3 seconds left to send the game overtime.
Fellow Cavaliers star Kevin Love had 39 points and 12 rebounds for the eastern conference leaders, who ended Washington's winning streak of 17 in a row at home and seven in a row overall.
Bradley Beal had 41 points and eight assists for the Wizards, but he missed a potential tying 3 with about 5 seconds left in overtime.
James became the first player in NBA history to rank in the top 20 in points (eighth), assists (13th) and steals (20th) as he passed Magic Johnson for 20th on the career steals list.
In Atlanta, Australians Joe Ingles and Dante Exum combined for 13 points as their Utah Jazz outfit continued their impressive season with a 120-95 thumping of the Hawks.
In Minneapolis, Goran Dragic scored 33 points and hit a career-high seven 3-pointers to lead Miami to their 11th straight victory, 115-113 over the Timberwolves.
The Heat now own the second-longest winning streak in the NBA this season. Golden State won 12 in a row in November.
In Indianapolis, Paul George had 21 points and eight rebounds, Jeff Teague scored 17 points and Indiana rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to beat Oklahoma City 93-90.
In Toronto, DeMar DeRozan had 31 points as Toronto overcame a triple-double from Blake Griffin to beat Los Angeles 118-109.
The Raptors were 3-4 in DeRozan's absence and won for just the fourth time in their last 12 games.
Lou Williams scored 22 points and Nick Young had 17 as Los Angeles handed New York an embarrassing 121-107 defeat to stop a 12-game losing streak on the road.
It was Los Angeles' first victory over New York at Madison Square Garden in six years.
In New Orleans, Anthony Davis capped his 34-point night with a key rebound and six made free throws in the final half-minute as New Orleans ended a four-game slide with a 111-106 victory over Phoenix.
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Australian centre Aron Baynes scored 12 points as the Detriot Pistons romped to a 113-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Elsewhere, Will Barton scored a season-high 31 points, connecting on five three-pointers, and the Denver Nuggets overcame the absence of three starters to beat the Dallas Mavericks 110-87.
And Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph scored 15 points each, Mike Conley added 12 points and nine assists and the Memphis Grizzlies held the San Antonio Spurs to a season low in points with an 89-74 victory.
Australian point guard Patty Mills had three assists but failed to score in his 15 minutes of court time.
