Irving, Cavs hand reeling Lakers loss

The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, left, and Antawn Jamison, right, attempt to slow Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, who scored 28 points in a home victory.

CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving scored 28 points in his return after missing 11 games with a broken finger, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, who dropped to a new low Tuesday night in a tumultuous season.

Irving added 11 assists in 39 minutes and showed off his dizzying array of moves as the Cavs ended a five-game losing streak.

Kobe Bryant scored 42 points and Dwight Howard added 19 points and 20 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to stop the Lakers from losing for the eighth time in 11 games and to a Cleveland team that came in with only four wins.

C.J. Miles scored 28 in his first start this season for the Cavs.

Los Angeles was without starting forward Pau Gasol, who missed his fifth straight game with knee tendinitis, and point guard Steve Nash, still sidelined with a broken leg.

The Lakers fell behind by 16 in the third quarter, despite Bryant's valiant attempt to rescue them.