Love leads Cavaliers to 9th win in a row

By JASON LLOYD

Akron Beacon Journal

CLEVELAND

Kevin Love had 23 points and 10 rebounds, including 16 points in the first quarter, and the Cavaliers beat the Sacramento Kings 101-90 Friday night for their ninth consecutive victory and their longest winning streak in nearly five years.

LeBron James had 19 points and seven assists after he was announced as a surprise starter 45 minutes before the game. Guard Kyrie Irving finished with 21 points and six assists one game after he scored 55 points Wednesday against the Blazers, the most any player has scored in the NBA this season.

James was considered doubtful with a sprained wrist. He already missed one game with the injury and was a limited participant at shootaround Friday morning, but the Cavs weren’t planning on him being available. He started slowly, but finished 7 of 16 shooting and added three assists despite looking tentative at times with the wrist.

The Cavs led by as many as 16 in the first half and 21 entering the fourth quarter on a night they were never really challenged by the Kings, who have lost their last eight games. Sacramento’s last win was against Cleveland on Jan. 11 at home, but these two teams have been trending in opposite directions ever since.

Kings center DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and 13 rebounds on the day he was named to his first All-Star team. Cousins was chosen by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as an injury replacement for Kobe Bryant, providing a shred of good news in what is fast becoming another dreary season.

Irving was named an All-Star reserve on Thursday, the third consecutive year he made the team. He becomes the fourth-youngest player, behind only James, Kobe Bryant and Isiah Thomas, to make three All-Star teams.

“Just feeling extremely blessed and thankful,” Irving said. “Couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaching staff having the confidence in me to go out there and be myself every single night. Every All-Star selection, with the exception of the fan vote, has been because of the teammates I’ve been around. Just truly blessed.”

Love’s big night came after he missed his last 11 shots in Wednesday’s win against the Portland Trail Blazers. Now he’ll prepare for his return to Minnesota for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves. And Love, who missed out on being named an All-Star at forward this season, knows the reception likely awaiting him.

“Truthfully? Booooo,” Love said. “Probably more of that than a mix of cheers. ... We’ll see. (Saturday) will be one of those times where they’ll have the chance to tell me how they really feel.”

The Cavs’ winning streak is their longest since they won a franchise-record 13 straight from Jan. 16 to Feb. 11, 2010. They won 61 games that season, James’ final year in Cleveland before departing for Miami.