In tuneup before Warriors, Korver helps Cavs top Kings
Kyrie Irving scored 26 points, Kyle Korver added 18 in his most productive game since joining Cleveland last week and the Cavaliers tuned up for their NBA Finals rematch by beating the host Sacramento Kings 120-108 on Friday night.
LeBron James had 16 points and 15 assists, Kevin Love added 15 points and 18 rebounds and Cleveland snapped a two-game losing streak before taking on Golden State on Monday in its first game at Oracle Arena since winning the NBA title there in June.
DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points and a seasonhigh 11 assists and Rudy Gay scored 23 points for the Kings, who fell to 1-4 on their seven-game homestand.
The Cavs sent forward Mike Dunleavy, guard Mo Williams, cash and a protected future firstround draft pick to the Hawks last week for Korver, a 14-year veteran whose deep range and ability to come off screens challenge defenses.
Korver shot just 2for-10 with no threepointers in his first two games after the trade but came up big Friday, especially after Sacramento had cut a 24-point lead to eight to open the fourth quarter.
Korver responded with a three-pointer and answered again a few minutes later after Cleveland’s lead was cut to six with his fourth three of the game. He shot 7-for-10 for the game, making 4 of 6 three-point shots. Magic 115, Trail Blazers 109: Nikola Vucevic scored a season-high 30 points as visiting Orlando snapped a four-game losing streak. Vucevic went 13-of-18 from the floor and grabbed 10 rebounds. For Portland, Damian Lillard scored 34 points and C.J. McCollum had 26. T’wolves 96, Thunder 86: Karl-Anthony Towns had 29 points and 17 rebounds and Ricky Rubio added 14 points and 14 assists to help host Minnesota win its third straight game, a first this season for the Timberwolves. Russell Westbrook had 21 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his 19th triple-double of the season. But he also had 10 turnovers in Oklahoma City’s first loss in four games. Grizzlies 110, Rockets 105: Tony Allen scored a seasonhigh 22 points, Mike Conley added 17 and visiting Memphis overcame a 15-point, thirdquarter deficit. James Harden had 27 points and nine assists for the Rockets, who lost consecutive games for the first time this season. 76ers 102, Hornets 93:
Joel Embiid scored 24 points, blocked three shots and led host Philadelphia to its third straight victory. Celtics 103, Hawks 101:
Isaiah Thomas scored 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Al Horford made a triumphant return and visiting Boston snapped Atlanta’s sevengame winning streak. Horford, a fan favorite in nine seasons in Atlanta, was booed throughout the night after leaving the team as a free agent last summer. He had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. Raptors 132, Nets 113:
DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points, Kyle Lowry added 20 and Toronto had its highest-scoring game of the season and handed visiting Brooklyn its ninth straight loss. Jazz 110, Pistons 77:
Rodney Hood scored a season-high 27 points and host Utah rolled over Detroit. Inconsistent this season, Hood went 7-for-8 from three-point range. Bucks 116, Heat 108:
Jabari Parker had 24 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 19 to help host Milwaukee beat Miami. Antetokounmpo also had eight rebounds and six assists after being limited by illness throughout the week.