Los Angeles - The Cleveland Cavaliers are headed home with their heads held high. LeBron James scored 37 points, and the Cavaliers clinched the NBA's best record along with homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs by beating the Indiana Pacers117-109 on Monday night.

"It's one step along the way but it's a big step" said MVP favourite James.

"To go throughout a season with the great players and the great teams that you have in this league, and to finish with the best record in the NBA is a great feat for our franchise. And we are proud of it."

Even though the Cavs own a 66-15 mark, including an astounding 39- 1 at home with one game left on Wednesday, James doesn't think his team should be considered favourites at this stage.

"Until you knock off the NBA Champs that's the team to beat," James said referring to the Boston Celtics.

The Cavaliers know what they have to do to win when they open their first-round series against the eighth-seeded Detroit Pistons this weekend.

"We worked hard to the point where we are at now, and we must serve home like we have done in the regular-season once the playoffs start," James said.

"We have got to play at the same high level we have played this year. We know the playoffs are a different game. Mentally and physically, you have to be a little stronger, but we are healthy and ready."

Delonte West scored 20 points, Mo Williams had 18 while Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 16 and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which won't be satisfied until it has a championship ring.

"It's funny because we got all these accolades throughout the year, but we are still not excited," Williams explained. "We congratulate each other, but we are not jumping around, because we want to win the NBA Championship."

Danny Granger scored 38 points, rookie Brandon Rush scored 27 for Indiana, which cut a 15-point halftime deficit to seven late in the game before falling short.

Elsewhere: Denver Nuggets 118, Sacramento Kings 98

Hotshot J. R. Smith hit a franchise-best 11 three-pointers en route to a career-high 45 points, including 23 in the final quarter, and the Nuggets (54-27) clinched the Northwest Division title along with home-court advantage in a playoffs

Chicago Bulls 91, Detroit Pistons 88 Derrick Rose scored 24, Ben Gordon had 19, including the tie-breaking layup with 15 seconds left, and the Bulls moved one-half game ahead of idle Philadelphia for sixth seed in the East playoff scramble.

Milwaukee Bucks 98, Orlando Magic 80 Richard Jefferson scored 24 points, Ramon Sessions added 19 and the host Bucks beat the Eastern Conference's third-seed, which rested. (dpa)