James sparks hot Cavs to 110-99 win over Nuggets

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - LeBron James scored 22 points for the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers in a 110-99 win over the new-look Denver Nuggets on Thursday.

James also had 11 assists and eight rebounds, coming within two boards of his first triple-double of the season as he helped lead the Cavaliers (7-2) to their sixth straight victory.

It was Denver's first defeat since acquiring point guard Chauncey Billups in a trade with the Detroit Pistons last week and left them at 4-4..

The veteran Billups, an All-Star and NBA champion, turned in his best individual effort with his new team, recording 26 points on 9-for-13 shooting to go with six assists.

"Our system and how we play is night and day from what it was in Detroit," Billups told reporters. "It's up and down here, and we try to speed up the tempo."

The Nuggets were unable to slow Cleveland's offensive surge in the third quarter, where the home team scored 30 points and closed with a 10-3 spurt to snatch an 88-81 advantage.

Cleveland's top off-season acquisition, Mo Williams, led the team with 24 points, making three 3-pointers, while reserve Daniel Gibson added 15.

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony had 18 points and eight rebounds in a losing effort.

Guarded by the more muscular James for much of the night, Anthony appeared out of sync at times and committed six turnovers.

The game turned feisty in the closing minutes with the outcome already determined, Denver power forward Kenyon Martin ejected for setting a hard screen on a Cavs player.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Alastair Himmer)