James, Love key Cavs’ rout of Suns

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers’ remade roster finally began the process of becoming whole.

It’s not there yet, not with Cedi Osman still rehabbing a strained left hip, Kyle Korver attending the funeral of his 27year-old brother Kirk and coach Tyronn Lue taking a leave of absence to address health issues.

But three of the Cavs’ top nine rotation players returned Friday night against the Phoenix Suns, joining fivetime All-Star Kevin Love, who played the third game in his comeback from a fractured left hand.

Even with some rust shown by Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood and Tristan Thompson after their layoffs, the hapless Suns were no match as the Cavs rolled to a 120-95 victory at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavs (43-29), who clinched a playoff berth with the Detroit Pistons’ loss to the Houston Rockets Thursday, won their seventh consecutive game against the Suns — and by their largest margin ever against them. With a threegame road trip opening in Brooklyn Sunday afternoon, the Cavs went 3-0 on the homestand, won their fourth consecutive game and for the fifth time in the last six.

LeBron James scored 16 of his 27 points in the third quarter and sat for all of the fourth. He also contributed six rebounds and nine assists in 29 minutes. On Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors James totaled 35 points and 17 assists with no turnovers; against the Suns James lost four turnovers.

Love backed James with 20 points, six rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes.