For much of the first half of the season, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love was part of trade rumors, despite the team's success.
But in the two games since the trade deadline passed, Love has shown how valuable he can be to a title-contending team. That included posting 29 points and 11 rebounds in the Cavaliers' 115-92 road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday.
"He gave it to us on both ends," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. "Defensively he was engaged, he was in the right spots contesting shots, he was physical in the postups, and his pick and roll defense was great."
Love shot 9-of-18 from the field and was 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Forward LeBron James, scored only two points in the game's first 10 minutes, but finished with 25 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Guard JR Smith added 15 points as the Cavaliers improved to 40-14.
But it was the Cleveland's physical nature that impressed the players the most.
"We have to bring the fight no matter who we're playing," James said. "It just makes us focus more when we're physical. We're more in tune. That's two straight games that we've been able to do that and I think that needs to be our staple. I think the guys know that."
Forward Kevin Durant scored 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting to lead the Thunder. Guard Russell Westbrook added 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Forward Serge Ibaka scored 12 points but was held to only two points after halftime as the Thunder dropped to 40-16.
Oklahoma is 0-2 since the All-Star break, but it's the way the team has competed that has the Thunder's stars calling everyone out.
"We've got to dig down deep," a frustrated Durant said. "X's and O's and shootarounds and schemes, and practices, that [stuff] is out the window. You've got to dig down deep and decide what you want to do. And that's everybody."
For the second time this season, Cleveland wore out the Thunder on the backboards with a 44-38 advantage.
"They just played more aggressive and made some shots," Westbrook said. "We didn't make much. In transition they got some easy buckets."
The loss dropped the Thunder's record to 13-11 against Eastern Conference teams this season. That includes a season sweep by the Cavaliers.
"We've got to regroup and figure out what we can do better and move on," Durant said. "It's the regular season."
Davis drops 59 on Pistons
Anthony Davis poured in a career-high 59 points, the NBA's highest-scoring outing this season, to carry the New Orleans Pelicans to a 111-106 victory over the slumping Detroit Pistons, who lost their fifth straight.
The All-Star power forward shot 24-for-34 from the field and made 9-of-10 free throw attempts. He also grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds.
Blazers backcourt paves way to win
Guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 61 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers past the Utah Jazz 115-111 at the Moda Center.
McCollum scored 31 points and Lillard 30 points as the Trail Blazers won for the 10th time in 11 games. Forward Moe Harkless came off the bench for 17 points and seven rebounds for Portland (29-27).
Raptors beat Grizzlies
Guard DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points and the Toronto Raptors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 98-85.
Guard Kyle Lowry added 18 points and seven assists for the Raptors (36-18), who had lost their previous two games.
Forward Zach Randolph scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Grizzlies (32-23), who had won their two previous games.
Celtics too good for Nuggets
Guard Isaiah Thomas had 22 points and 12 assists, and the surging Boston Celtics beat the Denver Nuggets 121-101.
Forward Jared Sullinger had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, which had a 48-36 edge in rebounding despite being undersized against Denver.
Guard Avery Bradley added 20 points for the Celtics (33-24), who have won 11 of 14 to stay on the heels of first-place Toronto in the Atlantic Division.
Parker, Mills lead Spurs past Suns
Guards Tony Parker scored 22 points and Patty Mills added 21 as the San Antonio Spurs struggled with the Phoenix Suns before pulling away for a 118-111 win.
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points and 10 rebounds and Rasual Butler had 12 points for the Spurs, who won for the eighth time in the last nine games to improve to 47-9, the best 56-game start in franchise history. That record is one game better than the 2010-11 Spurs team (46-10).
