LEBRON JAMES scored 34 points on the eve of his 31st birthday, Iman Shumpert added a season-high 16 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 93-87 Tuesday night.

    This win was the perfect early gift as the Cavaliers finish off a four-game West Coast swing with a 2-2 mark. But what James really wants for a present? Time with his family. That and maybe a couple of actual presents because, contrary to popular belief, he doesn’t have everything.

    “It’s become an excuse,” James playfully said of his family and friend not knowing what to get him. “They’re like, ‘What do we get someone who has everything?’ That’s what I hear.”

    Cavaliers coach David Blatt has the ideal gift for his star player.

    “Peace and quiet,” Blatt said. “That’s what I would give him. Even a day, where nobody bothers him.”

    The Cavaliers rested Kyrie Irving on the second night of a back-to-back as he works his way back from a fractured left kneecap. No trouble as Kevin Love helped pick up the slack with eight points and 14 rebounds in Cleveland’s fourth game in five nights.

    “We wanted and felt that we needed to finish this trip strong, to get a couple of wins, to go into the new year with good momentum and a good feeling,” Blatt said.

    Reserve Will Barton had 29 for the injury-riddled Nuggets, who’ve now dropped six of seven. They were once again without Danilo Gallinari (sprained left ankle) and rookie Emmanuel Mudiay (sprained right ankle).

    “If we were healthy and fully loaded, I’m sure we would play a little bit better,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “But I’m not going to use that as an excuse for our loss tonight.”

    Trailing by 11 with 3:07 remaining, the Nuggets resorted to fouling Tristan Thompson, who’s a 56 percent free throw shooter. Thompson struggled at the line, hitting 1 of 4, but Denver couldn’t capitalize.

    James put the finishing touches on the win with a windmill dunk late in the game. On his way back down the court, James smiled at retired NBA player and Denver native Chauncey Billups, who was sitting courtside.

    As for what James said, well, he preferred to keep that quiet.

    “Always great to see him,” James said. (SD-Agencies)