{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Cleveland 125, Minnesota 104
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Officials: #49 Tom Washington, #46 Ben Taylor, #61 Courtney Kirkland
Attendance: 20562

Cavaliers 125, Timberwolves 104:
Kyrie Irving led the way with 29 points and LeBron James scored 24 as Cleveland eased past visiting Minnesota.

Kevin Love made his first appearance against his former team and collected 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who picked up their third straight win. Dion Waiters scored 19 points off the bench and Shawn Marion added 11.

Andrew Wiggins, who went from Cleveland to the Timberwolves in the Love deal, scored 27 points. Gorgui Dieng collected a season-high 20 points to go with 11 rebounds and four blocks while Shabazz Muhammad scored 18 for Minnesota.

The Cavaliers ended the second quarter with a 12-6 burst to take a 64-56 lead into the break, but the Timberwolves kept it close early in the third and were within 80-78 with 3:34 remaining. Cleveland again closed the quarter strong, getting 3-pointers from James and Waiters in a 16-1 run to close the period, making it a 96-79 gap.

Love’s three-point play opening the fourth quarter extended it to a 20-point gap before Minnesota cut it back to 102-90 with 7:52 left. The Cavaliers locked down on defense and pushed it back out to 116-93 with 4:31 remaining while coasting to the finish.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cleveland C Anderson Varejao went down in the third quarter after a collision under the basket and had to be helped off the floor after suffering a left foot/ankle injury. … Minnesota F Anthony Bennett, who came along with Wiggins in the Love deal, was held scoreless in 12 minutes off the bench. … The Cavaliers went 12-of-24 from 3-point range while the Timberwolves struggled to 4-of-13.
Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   Cleveland
Andrew Wiggins 27 Scoring Kyrie Irving 29
Mo Williams 7 Assists Kyrie Irving 4
Gorgui Dieng 11 Rebounds Kevin Love 10
Gorgui Dieng 8 Free Throws Made Kevin Love 9
Zach Lavine 4 Steals Kyrie Irving 3
Gorgui Dieng 4 Blocks LeBron James 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Minnesota 104 44.3 4-13 22-29 25 40 9 13 18
Cleveland 125 52.4 12-24 25-31 24 38 6 11 17
Upcoming Games
  • Cleveland will play their next game on the road against Miami. The Cavaliers have a W/L % of .750 after a win and .455 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Denver. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .238 after a loss.