Irving scores 24 to lead Cavaliers past Grizzlies 111-89

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, Kevin Love added 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 111-89 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

LeBron James finished with 20 points and Timofey Mozgov added 14 for Cleveland, which won its fourth straight and eighth in its last nine. J.R. Smith had 13 points for Cleveland, which shot 51 percent and was 14 of 34 from 3-point range.

Marc Gasol led Memphis with 18 points, while Beno Udrih scored 15. Jeff Green had 11 points for Memphis, which had its three-game losing streak snapped.

The game was not in doubt after a big third quarter from the Cavaliers, extending the lead to as many as 29. The 22-point loss was the biggest of the season at home for Memphis.

Cleveland controlled the boards with a 49-32 advantage in rebounds, which offset the Cavaliers' 18 turnovers, including five each by Love and Irving, compared to eight for Memphis.

The game completely got away from Memphis in the third when Cleveland connected on 11 of its first 13 shots in the quarter, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

That led to Cleveland outscoring Memphis 36-24 in the quarter, extending its 13-point halftime lead before holding a 91-66 advantage at the end of the third quarter. The Cleveland lead was so substantial at the end of three that Memphis coach Dave Joerger left his starters on the bench for the final period.

The Cavaliers were able to convert because Memphis appeared to simply be going through the motions on both ends of the floor. The Grizzlies' defense, which is among the best in the league, was virtually nonexistent as Cleveland converted on dunks and jumpers. On one play, James was so open in the corner, he was able to set himself, take a dribble and then shot without a defender challenging him.

In a physical first half, the Cavaliers used 18 points from Irving and 13 from James to carry 55-42 lead into the break, Cleveland's largest lead of the half.

There was a lot of banging under the basket as the Cavs tried to offset the bigger Memphis front-line duo of Gasol and Zach Randolph. Gasol managed 14 points in the half, but he and Randolph were a combined 7 of 20 from the field, part of Memphis shooting 40 percent.

Randolph finished with only five points in the game.

TIP-INS:

Cavaliers: The game was Cleveland's last in the regular season against a Western Conference opponent. ... The Cavaliers entered having lost the last five in Memphis. Cleveland's last road win in the series was during the 2008-09 series.

Grizzlies: Reserve G Vince Carter was ejected early in the third quarter for arguing a no call when Memphis thought Gasol was fouled. ... Memphis G Courtney Lee returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained right hand sprain. ... Tony Allen connected on his 10th 3-pointer. He has made one in three of the last four games. ... Memphis recorded its 13th sellout of the season.

UP NEXT:

Cavaliers: Visit Nets on Friday

Grizzlies: Host Warriors on Friday