CLEVELAND, Ohio, (Reuters) – LeBron James continued  his reign over the Los Angeles Lakers, recording 37 points as  the Cleveland Cavaliers claimed a 93-87 victory to sweep the  season series against the defending NBA champions on Thursday.

King James recorded 12 points in the fourth quarter  including the go-ahead lay-in with 40 seconds remaining. He  added a free throw and Anderson Varejao made three more from  the line to help the Cavaliers close the game with the final  six points.

“You don’t want to look too far into (the win),” James told  reporters after also finishing with nine assists.

“They’re the best team we have in our league. You take the  win, use it as a measuring stick and move on.”

Kobe Bryant scored 31 points and became the youngest player  to reach 25,000 points after converting a free throw in the  first half after starting well in the matchup against James, a  shootout between the NBA’s last two MVP winners.

However, Bryant’s shooting woes returned in the second half  and finished with 12 of 31 from the field.

Bryant’s jumper with 1:32 remaining tied the game at 87-87,  but Los Angeles faded and failed to gain revenge for their  102-87 Christmas Day loss to Cleveland.

The Cavaliers (33-11) moved to within percentage points of  the Lakers (32-10) for the best record in the league despite  receiving bad news earlier in the day.

Mo Williams, the team’s second leading scorer, learned he  would be out 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury he sustained  against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.

Cleveland appeared affected early by the loss of their  scoring option and fell 27-18 behind after the first where  Bryant tallied 12 points.

The Cavaliers cut into the margin to just two at halftime  before James put his stamp on the second half with his outside  shot. He made four straight jumpers during a personal 9-0 run  that put the Cavs up 87-80.

Los Angeles responded with a 7-0 spurt of its own to tie  the contest but could not score in the last minute.

“The Cavs’ are physical, tough-minded and hard-nosed-type  team,” Bryant said. “We have to step up and match that —  that’s not part of our DNA.”

The Lakers were held to just 38 percent from the field,  getting 13 points and eight rebounds from Pau Gasol and a  double-double (10 points, 10 boards) from reserve Lamar Odom.

Shaquille O’Neal scored 13 for Cleveland against his former  team.