Wizards Down Cavaliers, NBA News

A visit to Cleveland is rarely the solution for a struggling team's problems. John Wall and the Washington Wizards bucked that trend Tuesday night.

Wall scored a season-high 35 points and the Wizards handed the Cavaliers their first home loss of the season, 97-85.

The Wizards, who never trailed, scored the first 10 points of the game and went on a 9-0 run to begin the second half in snapping a four-game losing streak.

"They beat us from the beginning to the end," said LeBron James, who led Cleveland with 24 points. "They beat us in every facet of the game."

The Cavaliers fell to 9-1 at home, where they had won 29 of 30 dating to last season.

The Wizards seemed unlikely candidates to win in Cleveland. Wall has heard criticism for being too passive and came into the game shooting 39 percent. He did something about it Tuesday, going 14 of 24 from the field with 10 assists.

Bryant Plays Final Game In Philadelphia

Kobe Bryant drove through the city at night, visiting the playground parks where he spent countless hours, thinking of how fast time flew by.

He walked the hallways of Wells Fargo Center a day later, greeting ushers who babysat him while his father played at a nearby arena that has since been torn down. He hugged Julius Erving, who, as Bryant said, "held me when I was a baby."

There were thunderous ovations during player introductions and a moving video tribute. There were cheers and chants of "Ko-be!" and "M-V-P!" that rained throughout. There were more roars and another standing ovation at the end, after which Bryant blew a kiss, tapped his heart and saluted the fans as he walked off the court Tuesday after his final NBA game in his hometown.

This crowd had booed Bryant in previous visits, but Bryant said it never bothered him, because the city that raised him also gave him armor to shield him from such things.

"There's not one playground around here where people just play basketball and don't talk trash," he said following a 103-91 loss to the previously winless Philadelphia 76ers. "So my family was just a bunch of trash-talkers. Every park I went to was a bunch of trash-talkers. It teaches you how to have a thick skin."

Then came an overwhelming reception Bryant didn't expect, including receiving a framed No. 24 Lower Merion High School jersey before the game by his coach at the suburban Philadelphia school where he dominated two decades ago.

In all, Bryant said it moved him beyond measure. He doesn't fashion himself as emotional, but he couldn't help it Tuesday. "They got me," he said, searching for the right words. "I couldn't ask for anything better, other than winning the game."

Tuesday, December 1 Scoreboard

Washington 97, Cleveland 85

Philadelphia 103, Los Angeles 91

Brooklyn 94, Phoenix 91

Orlando 96, Minnesota 93

Memphis 113, New Orleans 104

Dallas 115, Portland 112 (OT)

Wednesday, December 2 Schedule (All Times Central)

Golden State at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles at Washington, 6 p.m.

Phoenix at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Toronto at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Denver at Chicago, 7 p.m.

New Orleans at Houston, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Indiana at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.