LeBron scores 32 as Cavaliers clinch division crown

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers clinched their second straight outright Central Division championship Wednesday night — and Mo Williams went home disappointed.

LeBron James had 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Cleveland's 99-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers. With the win, Cleveland (54-15) became the first team this season to clinch a division title.

Williams spent last summer and the early part of this season trying to cherish the little things along with Cleveland's bid to win an NBA championship. The first milestone passed by Wednesday without him realizing it.

"We have to cherish these moments and celebrate these moments," Williams said. "Our goal (last year) was so focused on a championship, we looked past clinching the division, clinching the playoffs and clinching home-court advantage. All that makes the main goal that much sweeter.

"That's kind of funny that we didn't come in here and acknowledge it. I'm kind of disappointed in that."

James made sure that was the only reason to go home disappointed, taking over late after Indiana cut an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter to one. James had six points, two blocks, two steals and an assist in the final four minutes.

Troy Murphy had 19 points and 15 rebounds for Indiana, which was without leading scorer Danny Granger, who took an elbow to the head Tuesday.

Jordan's bid approved

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Jordan became a basketball star at North Carolina. Now he'll try to turn around the state's money-losing NBA team by becoming the first ex-player to be a majority owner in the league.

The NBA's Board of Governors unanimously approved Jordan's $275 million bid to buy the Charlotte Bobcats from Bob Johnson. Jordan will take over the team immediately after serving as a minority investor with the final say on basketball decisions since 2006.

The six-time NBA champion and five-time league MVP will be charged with turning around the fortunes of the 6-year-old Bobcats, who are on pace to lose about $30 million this season because of sluggish ticket and sponsorship sales.

The 47-year-old Jordan, who will assume about $150 million in debt in the deal, becomes the second black majority owner of a major pro-sports team. He replaces the first in Johnson, who paid $300 million for the expansion franchise, but lost tens of millions annually and saw the value of the team decline as Charlotte fans struggled to warm to the NBA again after the Hornets left for New Orleans in 2002.

Notes

• Aaron Brooks from Franklin High School set a Houston record by hitting seven three-pointers without a miss and scored 31 points, and the Rockets snapped Memphis' seven-game road winning streak with a 107-94 victory.

• Jamal Crawford from Rainier Beach High School had a season-high 33 points for the Atlanta Hawks, but host Toronto prevailed 106-105 on Chris Bosh's 16-foot jumper with 2.1 seconds left.

• Golden State's Stephen Curry missed the Warriors' game against New Orleans because of a sprained ankle.

• The Portland Trail Blazers dismissed Tom Penn as vice president of basketball operations.