Cavs, James manhandle Heat
CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 27 points against his former team to move into ninth place on the NBA's career scoring list in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 114-84 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday night.
James added eight rebounds and eight assists, and Kevin Love fought through back spasms to contribute 28 points and 15 rebounds. Kyrie Irving scored 23 points.
Injuries and Dwyane Wade's defection in free agency have reduced the Heat to smoldering ashes, last place in their division and little hope of making the playoffs.
Udonis Haslam was a late scratch for personal reasons, wiping away the final link between James and the Heat's championship past. There was no one on the floor in a Miami jersey whom James played with -- and he only left the franchise three seasons ago.
Former Cavs guard Dion Waiters (torn thigh muscle) was one of six injured Miami players unable to play. They began the game with just three subs, although they managed to hang around until the second half.
Irving's driving layup at the third-quarter buzzer extended the Cavs' lead to 87-69 and coach Tyronn Lue pulled his regulars after James passed Elvin Hayes (27,313) for ninth place on the scoring list.
Derrick Williams scored 18 points, Goran Dragic added 15 and Hassan Whiteside had eight points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who dropped their fourth straight.
Miami shot a season-low 34.8 percent from the field, which is also the lowest percentage for any Cavs opponent this season.
The Heat's starting frontcourt combined for 20 points, meaning Love and James each outscored them alone. Thompson grabbed eight rebounds for the Cavs and Iman Shumpert scored 10 points off the bench.
NOTES: F/C Channing Frye was excused from the Cavs to attend his father's funeral. Frye lost both his mother and father within a month. ... G J.R. Smith missed his second game with a hyperextended left knee, but coach Tyronn Lue believes Smith could play Saturday when the Cavs host the Charlotte Hornets. ... Before the game, G DeAndre Liggins received his championship ring from Sioux Falls, the D-League affiliate of the Heat. ... Heat F Udonis Haslam (personal reasons) was a late scratch. ... Heat C Hassan Whiteside was averaging 17.6 points and an NBA-best 14.7 rebounds before Friday's game, but coach Erik Spoelstra is still challenging him to do more. "Hassan needs to understand what he has to bring every night. If he's not giving 100 percent on every possession, he's doing a disservice to us and to himself." ... The Heat play at Chicago on Saturday.