Love scores 29, leads Cavaliers past Thunder 115-92

Kevin Love scored 29 points to help the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers roll past the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-92 on Sunday.

Love shot 9 of 18 from the field and 11 for 12 at the free throw line to match his second-best scoring performance of the season.

LeBron James had 25 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, and Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Cleveland, which won its fifth straight.

The Cavaliers romped even though point guard Kyrie Irving sat out after the first quarter because of flu-like symptoms.

Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Russell Westbrook had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City, which lost its second straight at home coming out of the All-Star break. It was the Thunder's most lopsided defeat of the season.

James had 18 points in the first half to help Cleveland take a 62-53 lead at the break. The Thunder cut into the deficit early in the third quarter, but J.R. Smith's 3-pointer with just under 7 minutes left in the period put the Cavaliers ahead 75-62. Another 3 by Smith made it 80-64.

Cleveland expanded its lead to 95-73 by the end of the quarter.

 

TIP-INS

 

Cavaliers: F Channing Frye, acquired last week in a trade with Orlando, still wasn't active. A team spokesman said before the game that the team was simply being diligent, and that there was ''nothing alarming'' going on. ... Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert tweeted his thanks to Anderson Varejao for his play during his 12 years in Cleveland. Varejao was traded as part of the deal that brought Frye to the Cavaliers. ... G Iman Shumpert missed the game with a sprained left shoulder. G Mo Williams sat out with a sore left knee.

 

Thunder: G Andre Roberson was active and dressed for the Thunder after missing the previous nine games with a right knee sprain. He did not play. ... Randy Foye, acquired in a trade with Denver last week, made his Thunder debut. ... Steven Adams scored nine points in the first quarter, matching the second-highest total of his career.

 

UP NEXT

 

The Cavaliers host the Detroit Pistons on Monday.

 

The Thunder play at the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.