Pro Sports

James, Irving lead Cavaliers past Hornets, 114-103

Posted February 24, 2016 6:00 am

By STEVE HERRICK

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) - LeBron James and Kyrie Irving scored 23 points each and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Charlotte Hornets 114-103 on Wednesday night.

The Cavaliers bounced back from a home loss Monday to Detroit in which James tied a season low with 12 points.

Kemba Walker added 20 points for Charlotte, which had won four straight on the road and five straight overall.

Cleveland used a 40-point second quarter to build a 63-52 halftime lead and dominated the second half, pushing the lead to 24 points in the fourth quarter.

James shot 5 of 18 from the field, missed all four of his 3-pointers and had six turnovers Monday. He put that performance in the past quickly, hitting 8 of 13 shots with seven rebounds and seven assists in 31 minutes while sitting out the fourth quarter.

Irving, bitten by bed bugs in his hotel room Saturday night in Oklahoma City, was limited to nine minutes Sunday against the Thunder. Against the Hornets he scored 30 points on 10-for-17 shooting.

Channing Frye, acquired in a trade last week, hit four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points while J.R. Smith scored 16.

Frank Kaminsky scored 16 points while Al Jefferson added 12 for the Hornets.

The Hornets beat the Cavaliers 106-97 earlier this month in Charlotte even though Walker and Jefferson were out with injuries. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist played in that game but had season-ending shoulder surgery last week.

TIP INS

Hornets: Jefferson played his third game after missing the previous 23 following knee surgery. ... Spencer Hawes (sore lower back) missed his third consecutive game. ... Charlotte fell to 6-2 in February.

Cavaliers: James moved into third place in team history in rebounds (4,676). ... Mo Williams was diagnosed with swelling in his left knee in a visit to Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday and played four minutes. ... Iman Shumpert (sprained left shoulder) missed his third straight game, but might return to practice Thursday.

UP NEXT

Hornets: At Indiana on Friday.

Cavaliers: At Toronto on Friday

Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving, left, catches a pass against Charlotte Hornets' Jeremy Lin in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 114-103. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

Charlotte Hornets' Tyler Hansbrough, left, drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' Timofey Mozgov, from Russia, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 114-103. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson dunks the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, center, blocks out Charlotte Hornets' Nicolas Batum, from France, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker, left, drives past Cleveland Cavaliers' Matthew Dellavedova, from Australia, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

Cleveland Cavaliers' J.R. Smith (5) drives to the basket against Charlotte Hornets' Jeremy Lamb (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

Charlotte Hornets' Marvin Williams, front, passes the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving watches in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

Charlotte Hornets' Jeremy Lin, center, drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love, left, and Timofey Mozgov in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

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