
CLEVELAND (AP) - Mo Williams shined brighter than ever.
In his first home game since being named an All-Star, Williams scored a career-high 44 points and LeBron James added 26 as the Cleveland Cavaliers reached the break by winning their 40th game, 109-92 over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.NBA roundup
Wednesday's action
- Williams, Jazz overcome 37 by Kobe
- Celtics beat Hornets; Allen injures thumb
- Williams scores 44 as Cavs crush Suns
- Ukic rallies Raptors past Spurs
- 'Melo, Nuggets put clamps on Magic
- Streaking Sixers win fourth straight
- Radmanovic, Bobcats shoot down Wiz
- Hawks handle Iverson, Pistons
- Jefferson, Bucks blow by Pacers
- Minus McGrady, Rockets beat Kings
- Oden, Blazers outduel Durant, Thunder
- Clippers rally to beat Knicks in OT
FOXSports.com analysis
- Rosen: Carmelo in a comfort zone
- O'Connor: Shaq good, Suns bad
- Rosenberg: NBA looking good
- Galinsky: NBA Power Rankings
Video
- Hill: Gasol, Odom stepping up
- Hill: So long, Stoudemire?
Photos
- Eastern Conference All-Stars
- Western Conference All-Stars
The Cavs, who believe they were wronged by a controversial call in the final seconds of a one-point loss at Indiana on Tuesday, bounced back from their first two-game losing slide this season with an impressive performance. They had their 23-game home winning streak stopped on Sunday by the Los Angeles Lakers.
But with Williams going 18-of-26 from the floor and making seven 3-pointers, Cleveland embarked on a new home streak by outrunning the speedy Suns, who were without starting point guard Steve Nash. He didn't dress to get extra rest for numerous sore spots.
Amare Stoudemire scored 27 and Grant Hill 14 for Phoenix (28-23), which will host this weekend's All-Star activities and could undergo a makeover before the Feb. 21 trading deadline. Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal have both been mentioned in trade rumors that are expected to intensify in the coming days.
After leading by 12 at half, the Cavaliers pushed their lead to 15 before they got complacent and allowed the Suns to trim a 15-point deficit down to five in the third quarter. But that's when Williams and James, Cleveland's All-Star reps, took over.
Williams hit a 3-pointer, James scored on a drive and Williams made another long-range shot as the Cavs pushed their lead back to 16 by the end of the third.
With Williams three points away from breaking his previous career high of 43, set on Jan. 27 against Sacramento, the point guard buried another 3-pointer from the right wing with 6:20 left to give the Cavaliers a 103-79 lead. At the next whistle, Williams was replaced as Cavs fans gave him a standing ovation; he got a hug from James as he reached the bench.
Williams' arrival from Milwaukee in an offseason trade is the biggest reason the Cavaliers are 40-11 at the All-Star break - they were 29-23 at the unofficial mid-season point a year ago - and a legitimate threat to make a run at their first NBA title this spring.
It took Williams three tries to make the All-Star team. He was first left off ballots by Eastern Conference coaches, who selected the reserves. Then, commissioner David Stern selected Boston's Ray Allen to replace injured Orlando guard Jameer Nelson before finally taking Williams on Tuesday to fill in for Toronto's Chris Bosh, who hurt his knee last week.
Along with a spot on the East squad, Williams is entered in the All-Star skills challenge, where competitors get to showcase their all-around game.
Williams' array of talents were on display in the first half.
He made 12-of-15 shots, including all four of his 3-pointers, and added five assists - one on a beautiful, behind-the-back bounce pass to Anderson Varejao - and added three steals as the Cavaliers opened a 64-52 lead despite the Suns shooting 65 percent (20-of-31) from the floor.
Notes: Williams is the seventh player this decade, but first since 2004-05, to make the All-Star team for the first time after being traded in the offseason. The others are Antawn Jamison, Sam Cassell, Elton Brand, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Tracy McGrady and Anthony Mason. ... During All-Star weekend in Phoenix, James and rapper Jay-Z - with help from Sprite - will donate 150 musical instruments to the Mesa (Ariz.) Arts Academy. James will also dedicate a new local playground.