CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- With reserves Darius Miles and Jason Kapono closing out the game, the Cleveland Cavaliers ended their eight-game losing streak.
Miles and Kapono scored 11 of their combined 31 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers withstood a season-high 43 points from Shareef Abdur-Rahim and defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 95-85.
"I liked what our bench was doing," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. "Tonight we put a complete game together."
During their slide, the Cavaliers had blown several double-digit leads, including a 24-point advantage in a home overtime loss to Memphis a week ago. They took a 71-66 lead into the final period, but Abdur-Rahim scored two quick hoops to make it a one-point game.
But Kapono, a rookie second-round pick, made two free throws and a jumper. Reserve center Chris Mihm did the same shortly thereafter, and a three-point play by Miles made it 84-74 with 5:36 remaining.
Miles made three free throws around a steal and layup by rookie LeBron James before Kapono's jumper made it 93-80 with 1:48 to go, sealing Cleveland's first win since November 18 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.
"(Kapono) played incredible for us and was able to give us a huge lift," said Cavaliers forward Carlos Boozer, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. "He hit some big shots in the fourth quarter."
Kapono scored a season-high 16 points, Miles added 15 and Mihm scored all six of his points in the fourth quarter. Cleveland's bench outscored Atlanta's, 44-10.
"That's what I do. That's what I'm here for," Kapono said. "I've taken the philosophy (that) I'm going to shoot my way in or shoot my way out. I am just trying to come in the game and score, and just do what I can to help this team win."
"I thought Jason played terrific down the stretch, made big shots and made big defensive plays," Silas said.
Abdur-Rahim made 17-of-27 shots and 9-of-10 free throws while grabbing 12 rebounds. But he was scoreless from the field in the final 11 minutes as the Hawks suffered their fourth straight road loss.
"Shareef was terrific," Hawks coach Terry Stotts said. "He had it going early and maybe we just rode him a little too much."
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 19 points and eight boards for Cleveland, which snapped a six-game losing streak to Atlanta dating to the 2001-02 season. James scored just eight points.
