LeBron-Russell show
Cavaliers, Thunder lean on super players to trounce opponents
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA— LeBron James scored 17 of his 32 points in the first quarter as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Charlotte Hornets, 121-109, on Saturday night.
Kevin Love added 28 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which played without Kyrie Irving after the point guard injured his right hamstring during Thursday’s 124-118 victory over Boston.
James was 6 for 7 from the field in the first quarter, inclu- ding a perfect 3 for 3 from beyond the arc.
Love scored 15 points in the second, helping Cleveland to a 71-59 lead at the break.
Kemba Walker scored 37 points for the Hornets, who had won five of six. Frank Kaminsky added 15 points and Nicolas Batum finished with 13 points and eight assists.
In Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook had 17 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds for his NBA-best 16th triple-double of the season, leading the Okla- homa City Thunder over the depleted Los Angeles Clippers, 114-88.
Westbrook played just 28 minutes as Oklahoma City put away Los Angeles with a big first half. Enes Kanter had 23 points and eight rebounds, and Victor Oladipo added 15 points.
The Clippers played without Chris Paul, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury, and Blake Griffin, who is recovering from right knee surgery. Brandon Bass and Marreese Speights each had 18 points.
Oladipo and Kanter each had nine points in the first quarter as Oklahoma City jumped out to a 33-12 lead. Alex Abrines drilled a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer, giving the Thunder a 69-40 lead at the break.
In Chicago, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points and Jabari Parker added 27 as Milwaukee used a strong finish to secure a 116-96 victory.
In Sacramento, Mike Conley had 22 points and eight rebounds, leading the Grizzlies to a 112-98 win.