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Cleveland’s Kevin Love scores NBA-record 34 points in first quarter against Portland

Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has missed the last two games because of back spasms.
(Chris Szagola / Associated Press)
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Kevin Love scored 40 points, including an NBA-record 34 in the first quarter, LeBron James recorded his 44th career triple-double, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 137-125, on Wednesday night.

Cleveland also set a franchise with 20 three-pointers and showed no signs of being rusty in its first game since Friday.

Love fell three points shy of the league record for points in any quarter, set by Golden State’s Klay Thompson, who scored 37 in the third on Jan. 23, 2015.

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Love, who set a team record for points in a period, made 11 of 14 shots from the field, including eight of 10 from long range in the first quarter. He made his first six shots, including five three-pointers.

James had 31 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists for his second triple-double this season. He also passed Guy Rodgers for 17th place on the career assist list.

Damian Lillard scored 40 points for Portland, including 25 in the second half.

Cleveland, which made its first nine three-pointers, led 46-31 after one quarter and scored 81 points in the first half, two short of the franchise record.

Love missed his only shot in a scoreless second quarter, scored six points in the third and was scoreless again in the fourth. He made 12 of 20 shots, including eight of 12 three-pointers.

Love recorded his first 40-point game since April 14, 2014, with Minnesota. He scored a career-high 51 points while playing for the Timberwolves on March 23, 2012.

San Antonio 119, at Charlotte 114: Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points as San Antonio earned its seventh consecutive victory. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 23 points and seven rebounds for the Spurs, who are to 8-0 on the road. Kemba Walker had 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Hornets, who lost their third straight game after starting the season 8-3.

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Memphis 104, at Philadelphia 99 (2 OT): Marc Gasol scored 27 points, Mike Conley had 25 and the Grizzlies won in double overtime for their sixth straight victory. Conley added nine rebounds and nine assists for Memphis, which came back from an 11-point, second-half deficit.

Phoenix 92, at Orlando 87: Alex Len had 17 points and 12 rebounds while Eric Bledsoe contributed 16 points for Phoenix, snapped a two-game losing streak and finished 2-4 on a six-game trip. Evan Fournier scored 25 points for Orlando, while teammate Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 13 rebounds.

at Utah 108, Denver 83: George Hill, who had missed eight games in a row with a thumb injury, scored 22 points for the Jazz, who had been embarrassed by a 14-point loss in Denver on Sunday.

Toronto 115, at Houston 102: DeMar DeRozan scored 21 of his 24 points in the third quarter and the Raptors ended a nine-game losing streak in Houston.

at New Orleans 117, Minnesota 96: Anthony Davis had 45 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans, who won their fourth in a row.

at Sacramento 116, Oklahoma City 101: DeMarcus Cousins had 36 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 116-101 victory over the slumping Thunder, who lost for the third consecutive time and seventh in nine games. The Kings had a 36-point third quarter and gradually pulled away in the fourth.

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Atlanta 96, at Indiana 85: Dwight Howard had 23 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Hawks, who went on a 19-2 run late in the third quarter to take control. Paul Millsap added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Atlanta. Thaddeus Young finished with 24 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers.

at Detroit 107, Miami 84: Andre Drummond had 18 points and 15 rebounds, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 22 points for the Pistons, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Tyler Johnson had 17 points for the Heat, who have lost eight of 10.

Boston 111, at Brooklyn 92: Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points, Avery Bradley had 22 and Al Horford added 17 for the Celtics, who have won three in a row. Sean Kilpatrick scored 23 points for the Nets, who have lost five in a row.

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