(The Sports Xchange) – In their first meeting since headlining one of the NBA’s highest-profile off-season trades, Andrew Wiggins outshone Kevin Love by scoring 27 points but Cleveland took the spoils, pulling away late in the third quarter to rout Minnesota 125-104.
The victory was Cleveland’s fourth in a five-game homestand before their eagerly anticipated Christmas showdown in Miami.
Kyrie Irving scored 17 of his game-leading 29 points in the second half for Cleveland, while LeBron James had 24 points, four rebounds and three assists. Love chipped in with 20 points.
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Lakers 115, Warriors 105
One of the worst in the Western Conference beat the NBA team with the best record as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors, despite playing without guard and leading scorer Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers, who trail only the Minnesota Timberwolves for mediocrity in the West, snapped a three-game losing streak and defeated the Warriors for the first time in five meetings.
Bryant missed the game due to fatigue, but the Lakers did not miss a beat without him, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter and keeping Golden State at bay.
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Bulls 99, Wizards 91
Guard Derrick Rose scored eight of his game-high 25 points over the final 3 1/2 minutes for a victorious Chicago.
Forward Pau Gasol had 18 points for the Bulls, who earned their fourth consecutive victory and won for the seventh time in eight games.
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Magic 100, Celtics 95
Tobias Harris scored 19 points to help Orlando snap a four-game losing streak.
Forward Kyle O’Quinn had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and center Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Orlando. The Celtics were led by center Tyler Zeller, with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and guard Avery Bradley, who scored 20 points.
