National Basketball Association

LeBron, Shaq finally get first win as teammates

Published Oct. 31, 2009 5:06 a.m. ET

foxsports

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers can relax a little. They haven't lost their touch, despite a rough start to this experimental season.

Determined to get the Cavaliers to play a complete game, James had 24 points and nine rebounds in Cleveland's first victory of the season, 104-87 over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

"If they continue to play hard like they did tonight and move the ball like they did," coach Mike Brown said, "we're going to get some wins while we're going through this process."

James took most of the fourth quarter off, finishing with six assists in 34 minutes and avoiding his first 0-3 start in five years. He shot 10 for 18 from the field while the Cavaliers used the renovated Timberwolves to revive their defense, which allowed an average of 98 points in defeats by Boston and Toronto this week.

They were better offensively, too, thanks to that crisp ball movement.