SAN ANTONIO (AFP) - Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 57 points, including 11 in overtime, as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied for a 128-125 NBA victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

He had the most points in the NBA this season, bettering his own 55 points in a win over Portland in January.

Cleveland's 22-year-old Australian-born star scored nine points in the final minute of regulation, including a three-pointer to tie the score at 110-110 and send the game into overtime.

He added 11 points in the extra period as the Cavs snapped a 10-game losing streak against the reigning NBA champion.

"All the credit goes to my team-mates," Irving said. "They were doing a great job of screening me, getting me open.

"We were all tired going into that overtime but there's no excuses."

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James added 31 points and gave his young team-mate an emotional embrace when the game concluded.

With the win, Cleveland improved to 42-25 and remained in first place in the Central Division and second in the Eastern Conference.