Cavaliers 100, Lakers 94: Kyrie Irving collected 28 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in his return to the lineup and C.J. Miles scored a season-high 28 points to help host Cleveland snap a five-game losing streak.

Anderson Varejao contributed 20 points and nine rebounds and Alonzo Gee added 17 points for the Cavaliers, who have won seven of their past eight home meetings with the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant scored 42 points - his third 40-point game of the season - and Dwight Howard added 19 points and 20 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has lost three straight and five of six to drop a season-worst four games below .500.

In his first game since a broken finger knocked him out of the lineup Nov. 18, Irving was 11-of-21 from the field and hit four 3-pointers. Making his first start of the season, Miles got hot from outside, going 5-for-10 from 3-point range.

The Cavaliers led by as many as 16 and had a 54-39 advantage at halftime. Los Angeles never led by more than two and held its last lead at 21-19. The Lakers pulled within four in the fourth quarter but couldn't get any closer.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lakers PF Pau Gasol missed his fifth consecutive game with tendinitis in both knees. The Lakers are 1-4 without him. … Cleveland rookie Dion Waiters was inactive with a sprained left ankle. … Los Angeles PF Jordan Hill made his first start of the season, as Antawn Jamison came off the bench.