National Basketball Association

James leads Cavs past Timberwolves for Lue's first win

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:35 p.m. ET

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CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James scored 25 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers gave Tyronn Lue his first win as head coach with a 114-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.

Cleveland lost to Chicago on Saturday, a day after Lue replaced David Blatt, who was fired on Friday.

The Cavaliers struggled with the Timberwolves before going on a spurt that began late in the third quarter and carried over into the fourth.

Cleveland still had to hold off a run by the Timberwolves, who cut a 15-point lead to 94-91 midway through the fourth. Tristan Thompson scored seven straight points and Matthew Dellavedova hit a 3-pointer, giving Cleveland a 104-91.

Minnesota got within four but the Cavaliers put the game away at the foul line.

Thompson had 19 points with 12 rebounds and Dellavedova scored 18 points as Cleveland had six players in double figures.

Karl Anthony-Towns led Minnesota with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 21 points while Andrew Wiggins added 20.

Cleveland built a 90-75 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota cut it to 94-91 with six minutes to play.

The Cavaliers selected Wiggins with the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft, but traded him to Minnesota in the deal that brought Love to Cleveland. Love scored 11 points against his former team.

Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett missed the game with a sore right knee.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: G Kevin Martin (sore right wrist) also missed the game. He's averaging 11.3 points in 41 games. ... F Adreian Payne was assigned to Erie of the NBA Development League. ... Minnesota hasn't won on the road since Dec. 20, a 100-85 victory over Brooklyn, a stretch of nine games.

Cavaliers: Lue is still operating under the contract he signed to be an assistant coach before last season and has yet to sign a deal as head coach. ''Still trying to get some things done and it hasn't been signed,'' he said. ''I'm not worried about it.'' ... Lue said former Suns assistant Mike Longabardi will be added to Cleveland's staff.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Host Oklahoma City on Wednesday

Cavaliers: Host Phoenix on Wednesday.