Cavs take care of Hornets without Irving
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- LeBron James scored 32 points, including 17 in the first quarter, and Kevin Love added 28 points and 10 rebounds in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 121-109 victory on Saturday night over the Charlotte Hornets.
Kyrie Irving missed the game with a hamstring injury and Jordan McRae was coach Tyronn Lue's surprise replacement. McRae scored a season-high 20 points in his second career start and first this season.
Kay Felder added 13 points off the bench and made his first five shots from the field, meaning two guys who didn't get off the bench in Thursday's win over the Boston Celtics this time combined for 33 points. Felder's only miss was in the final minute after the game was out of reach.
Guard Kemba Walker did his best to keep the Hornets close with 37 points, but he didn't get enough help. Frank Kaminsky scored 15 points off the bench, Nic Batum had 13 points and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist contributed 12 points and eight rebounds.
Walker's 3-pointer with 4:52 left pulled the Hornets within 112-104, but the Hornets didn't get any closer.
Lue said after Thursday's win that Irving simply had a hamstring cramp, but by Saturday he still wasn't ready to play. Lue said Irving aggravated the hamstring on Thursday when he banged knees with James and the Cavs didn't want to push him.
"We're just going to be cautious," Lue said. "No need to go out and try to be a hero."
Irving's absence sent the Cavs into the game without their starting backcourt. J.R. Smith is out with a fractured thumb.
Cleveland had just 10 healthy bodies because Mike Dunleavy also missed the game with a sore right ankle he injured Thursday.
Lue's options to replace Irving were limited, but he chose McRae over Iman Shumpert and Richard Jefferson so he didn't disrupt his bench rotation. The plan worked.
McRae made three 3-pointers and produced by far his best overall game this season. He entered the night shooting just 32 percent from the field but made 8 of 12 against the Hornets.
NOTES: Saturday's game marked the third game that G Kyrie Irving has missed this season. It was G Jordan McRae's first start of the season and second of his career. ... F LeBron James, a huge Ohio State fan, was disappointed that the Buckeyes' national championship semifinal started at the same time as Saturday's game. "I will be talking to our assistant coaches that sit behind the bench and ask them to keep me updated," James said. "They're going to have to keep me updated on the score. That game is very, very important." ... F Mike Dunleavy missed the game with a sore right ankle. ... Hornets G Marco Belinelli missed his fourth game with a sprained left ankle. Coach Steve Clifford was hopeful that Belinelli could play, but the ankle was still too sore. ... G Kemba Walker is one of only four players in the league averaging at least 20 points and shooting 45 percent from the floor and at least 40 percent from 3-point range while contributing five or more assists.