AUBURN HILLS – While the Cleveland Cavaliers have a much-heralded “Big Three’ of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, all they needed was a one-two punch against the Pistons.
With Love struggling from the field in going 3-of-11 and scoring seven points in 32 minutes, Irving and James combined for 70 points to carry the red-hot Cavaliers to a 103-95 win, their seventh straight.
Irving scored 38 points—including going 6-of-10 from three-point range and six assists, with James adding 32 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
After missing some early shots and coming out of the gate slow in trailing 19-17 in the first quarter, Cleveland got things going in the second quarter in to lead by eight, 47-39 and never look back, thanks to Irving and James’ heroics.
D.J. Augustin led all Detroit scores with 19 points, nine assists and four rebounds and power forward Greg Monroe added 17 points and 12 rebounds.
With the win, Cleveland improves to 26-20 and moves to three games behind the Central Division-leading Chicago Bulls, with a critical match-up against the Northwest Division-leading (32-13) Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night back home at the Q.