INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 24 (Ticker) -- Ron Artest and the Indiana Pacers put an emphatic end to the Cleveland Cavaliers' winning streak.

Artest scored 21 points and played stifling defense on LeBron James as the Pacers posted a 98-76 victory over the Cavaliers, who lost for the first time in nine games.

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The 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, Artest held James to just four points on 1-of-9 shooting in the opening two quarters as Indiana took a 47-30 lead. The NBA's third-leading scorer, James fared a little better in the second half and finished with 19, well below his season average.

"It was hard work out there tonight (against Artest)," said James, who made 6-of-20 shots. "He's a great defender. I tried to use my quickness and get by him, but I missed a lot of shots I usually make. I should have attacked more, but the game was out of reach early because we couldn't make shots."

"Ron is a great defensive player," said Cleveland coach Mike Brown, who spent the previous two seasons as as assistant with the Pacers. "Not just that, he's a great all-around player. He can do a lot of things at both ends. I don't think all of LeBron's offensive problems were because of him, but he had a lot to do with it."

With James contained, the Cavaliers shot 38 percent (26-of-69) and set season lows for points in the first half and a game.

"It was a great team effort tonight," Artest said. "One through 15, we were all ready to play. We have given away three games this year, so effort is really important for us. I'm hungry to win, hungry to guard the tough players. I'm just always hungry."

Indiana led, 25-15, after the first quarter and pulled away with a 14-5 run early in the second period. After Alan Henderson's follow shot drew Cleveland within 25-17 with 11 minutes left, Jermaine O'Neal answered with a basket and rookie Sarunas Jasikevicius and Stephen Jackson hit consecutive 3-pointers to push the lead to 33-17.

O'Neal added a dunk and, after a free throw by James and a jumper by Larry Hughes, Artest capped the burst with a layup and two free throws to make it 39-22 with 5:09 remaining.

Jasikevicius scored a season-high 17 points off the bench and O'Neal contributed 15 for the Pacers, who have won three straight following a two-game losing streak.

Drew Gooden scored 16 points for Cleveland, which got no closer than 13 in the second half.

"They aren't where Mike Brown wants them at yet," O'Neal said. "All in all, he has them playing with a lot of confidence. They'll get there, but they aren't there yet. It's still a work in progress."