Cavs’ Love sets NBA record with 34 points in 1st quarter

Kevin Love scored 40 points, including an NBA-record 34 in the first quarter to help the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 137-125 win over Portland. The record is still held by Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson, who scored 37 points in the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings on January 23 last season.

The Cavs extended their record of consecutive games with 10 or more 3-pointers to start a season to 14.

After watching the Cavs lose to the Warriors in six games in the 2015 NBA Finals, Love came into his second season in Cleveland looking to play a larger role in the team’s success. Cleveland was in control with an 81-60 halftime advantage, but it limited Love’s individual brilliance after his quick start.

Love ended the game with 40 points, his highest points total with the Cavs since joining from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014. The game’s signature moment came when Love found James streaking down the right side of the court for the play that thrilled the crowd.

Falling to a lopsided 124-104 loss, the Mavericks (2-12) limped to a seventh straight defeat for the first time since February of 1999.

“I’ve been in that position quite a lot”, said James, who played wide receiver in high school. He was on an undisclosed minutes limit and finished with 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting from the field and six rebounds in 20 minutes for the Mavericks (2-12), who own the NBA’s worst record. Cleveland also set a franchise with 20 3-pointers.

“That’s pretty insane. We nearly have more assists than rebounds”. It’s hard to believe a player scored 34 points in the first quarter of this game and that player didn’t finish with the sole game-high mark in points. “The last couple games the guys have been shooting really well”. Reserve Frank Kaminsky had 13 points and eight rebounds but the Hornets lost their third straight game after starting the season 8-3.

Suns 92, Magic 87: Alex Len had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Eric Bledsoe added 16 points to lead Phoenix past Orlando.

Still, Love is more comfortable in this system now than he has ever been and a large reason for that is head coach Tyronn Lue, who made it a point of emphasis to get Love into his comfort zone earlier in games.

Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard continued his career rejuvenation in a 96-85 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday by scoring 23 points and hauling in 20 rebounds. By the end of the game, Irving had passed Daniel Gibson for the third most three-pointers made in team history. He hit all seven of his shot attempts, scoring 19 points. Run the floor. If you’re open, we got to throw you the ball.

This will be another tough game for the Dallas Mavericks, they are still without their point guards due to injuries. Cleveland’s second unit has been solid overall this season, with Richard Jefferson proving that he’s still got plenty in the tank and Jordan McRae proving that he belongs in the rotation at the National Basketball Association level.