Denver at New Jersey (7:30 p.m. EST). Jason Kidd is expected to return after a five-game absence for the Nets, who return from a West Coast swing to face the Nuggets.

STARS

Monday

_LeBron James, Cavaliers, had 34 points, seven assists and six rebounds as Cleveland won its fourth straight, 108-102 over Atlanta.

_Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, scored 26 points in Dallas' 103-90 victory over Phoenix.

STREAKING

Dallas' 103-90 victory over Phoenix on Monday night was its ninth straight at home, where the Mavericks are a league-best 29-4.

SNAPPED

Utah snapped a five-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Lakers with an 88-83 victory Monday night.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Phoenix's Shawn Marion had 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in Monday night's 103-90 loss at Dallas. ... Stephen Jackson scored a career-high 30 points, but Atlanta lost for the fifth time in six games, 108-102 to Cleveland.

MIXED REVIEWS

Karl Malone returned to Salt Lake City for the first time with his new team, receiving jeers and cheers from Utah fans as his Lakers lost 88-83 on Monday night. Malone is still on the injured list with a bad knee.

TEAM EFFORT

Seldom-used Greg Buckner scored a season-high 20 points, reserve Zendon Hamilton added a season-high 19, Kenny Thomas had 14 points and 15 rebounds and Eric Snow contributed 17 points and 12 assists to help Philadelphia win consecutive games for the first time in two months with a 97-92 victory over Milwaukee on Monday night.

EARLY EXIT

Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was ejected in the fourth quarter of Los Angeles' 88-83 loss to Utah on Monday night.

STATUS

Allen Iverson, the NBA's second-leading scorer, sat out Philadelphia's 97-92 win over Milwaukee on Monday night because of a right knee injury.

SPEAKING

``I must be a dummy.'' _ Philadelphia interim coach Chris Ford, on not playing Greg Buckner in the 76ers' previous four games. Buckner scored a season-high 20 points in a 97-92 win over Milwaukee on Monday night.