NBA Note - Cleveland Cavaliers James, LeBron

Nov 23, 2017 - 9:50 AM F LeBron James scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, including an 18-point run on his own, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 119-109 on Wednesday night.

James, who left the game early in the third quarter to get stitches for a facial laceration, finished with 33 points, six rebounds and five assists. He was injured when Tyler Zeller's noggin caught James in the mouth, sending him for stitches.

How many?

"Enough to close the wound," James said.

The Cavs led 100-99 with 4:25 remaining when James stepped to the line for free throws that sparked his 18 consecutive points.

When James was finished -- on a 3-pointer with 55.6 seconds to go -- the Cavs led 118-107 and it was all over.

"You've got to let it come to you," James said. "It's times when you wish you can do it and sometimes when the ball just doesn't go in. But I put a lot of work into my craft and I believe that every shot I take is going to go in. But without my teammates setting screens and defending, getting the rebounds, cutting, and things of that nature, then none of that is even possible for me, so, they get the most credit."

James actually missed a dunk in the first quarter, in rare and embarrassing fashion. He intercepted a pass from Caris LeVert and was en route to a breakaway slam, but after whipping the ball around the air, clanged it off the rim with 3:49 left in the period.

James became the 26th player in NBA history with 1,500 career 3-pointers. He needed two to reach the milestone Wednesday.