CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Love scored 29 points, J.R. Smith found his aim — for one half — and LeBron James added 23 points as the Cavaliers won their fifth straight, 103-86 on Tuesday night over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis rested center Marc Gasol for the first of back-to-back games against the defending NBA champions.
Smith, who has been in a season-long shooting slump, scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half as the Cavs, who gave star point guard Kyrie Irving the night off, built a 22-point lead and ended the Grizzlies’ six-game winning streak.
Zach Randolph replaced Gasol in the starting lineup and scored 18 points to lead the Grizzlies. The reigning Western Conference player of the week, Gasol is expected to play Wednesday when the teams play in Memphis to complete a brutal three-game stretch for the Grizzlies, who beat Golden State by 21 on Saturday.
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The Cavaliers have announced plans for a $140 million project to renovate Quicken Loans Arena, their downtown home since 1994.
The defending NBA champions and Cuyahoga County officials believe the arena needs an exterior face-lift and massive interior upgrades to better accommodate fans and attract future events. The Q currently hosts 200-plus events annually.
The team and taxpayers would split the cost without any increase in taxes. The Q would remain open during construction, which would begin in 2017 and take approximately two years.