Pelicans 119, Cavaliers 114: Tyreke Evans scored a season-high 31 points and dished out 10 assists and Ryan Anderson poured in 30 points off the bench to lead host New Orleans past Cleveland.

Jrue Holiday chipped in 16 points and eight assists, Omer Asik had nine points and 14 rebounds and Austin Rivers added 11 points off the bench for the Pelicans, who lost star Anthony Davis to a chest contusion in the first quarter. Anderson tied a career high with eight 3-pointers and is 16-for-26 from 3-point range in two meetings with Cleveland this season.

LeBron James returned from a one-game absence to rack up 41 points on 17-of-24 shooting for the Cavaliers, who have lost two straight following an eight-game winning streak. Kevin Love added 21 points, Kyrie Irving scored 17 and Anderson Varejao contributed 11 for Cleveland.

The Pelicans took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter and stretched it to 97-78 after a pair of Anderson 3-pointers early in the final period, but they had to hold off one last surge from Cleveland. James Jones' 3-pointer with 54 seconds left pulled the Cavaliers within 112-107, but Babbitt answered with a 3 of his own to halt the rally.

The lead went back-and-forth throughout the first half as James and Anderson traded punches, but Evans hit a 3-pointer and Rivers threw down a dunk in the final minute of the half to send New Orleans to the break with a 64-59 lead. Babbitt hit a 3-pointer during a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 11 early in the third quarter and Evans scored four points during an 8-0 burst a few minutes later to push it to 80-67.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Davis was 4-for-4 for eight points before he went to the locker room with 5:30 left in the first quarter and was unable to return. X-rays on his injured chest were negative. … Cavaliers SG Dion Waiters left after experiencing abdominal pain and was taken to the hospital for further examination. … James (804) passed Mark Price for the most 3-point field goals in Cavaliers history.