Cavaliers show no Love for Timberwolves
CLEVELAND—Kevin Love scored 20 points in his first game against Minnesota, Kyrie Irving added 29 and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away in the second half for a 125-104 victory over the Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
Love’s reunion with the team he spent six frustrating seasons with before a summer blockbuster trade was overshadowed by an injury to Cleveland center Anderson Varejao, who had to be helped off the floor in the third quarter. Varejao was unable to put any weight on his left leg as he was assisted to the locker room.
LeBron James added 24 points for the Cavs, now 12-3 since opening 5-7.
Rookie Andrew Wiggins scored 27 against the team that drafted him for the Timberwolves, who dropped their sixth straight and have lost 12 of 13.
In Los Angeles, Carlos Boozer scored 18 points in his new role off the bench, and the Lakers shocked the league-leading Golden State Warriors, 115-105, without Kobe Bryant.
The NBA’s No. 3 career scorer sat out for the first time this season to rest his tired legs, a decision made by coach Byron Scott.
The 36-year-old shooting guard, averaging 35.5 minutes through the first 27 games of his 19th NBA season and shooting just 37.2 percent, was 3 for 15 in a one-point loss to Oklahoma City last Friday and 8 for 30 with nine turnovers in a seven-point defeat at Sacramento on Sunday.
Stephen Curry had 22 points and six assists for the Warriors, who lost for only the fourth time in their first 27 games.
In Oklahoma City, Damian Lillard scored 40 points, making a tying three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation, and Portland rallied from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Thunder in overtime, 115-111.
Lillard’s 40-point outing was his second in Portland’s last four games, following a 43-point outburst against San Antonio on Friday. He also had 11 assists.
Lillard went 8 of 12 from 3-point range, including one with 2:07 left in overtime to put Portland up 111-106. Lillard had seven points in the extra period.
OTHER RESULTS: Bulls 99, Wizards 91; Hawks 107, Clippers 104; 76ers 91, Heat 87; Suns 124, Mavericks 115; Nets 102, Nuggets 96; Magic 100, Celtics 95; Pacers 96, Pelicans 84; Hornets 108, Bucks 101
