CLEVELAND _ Considering the Cleveland Cavaliers had not won back-to-back games since Dec. 16-17, they knew they could take no opponent for granted.
Not even a Detroit Pistons team that brought a seven-game losing streak to Quicken Loans Arena Sunday.
But the Cavs had been in such a funk of late that turning in 48 minutes of maximum effort seemed like a challenge they had no interest in meeting.
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue found a spark with a new rotation to start the fourth quarter, using LeBron James, Kyle Korver, Jae Crowder, Channing Frye and Jeff Green. The group seemed to click as the Cavs pulled away for a 121-104 victory over the Pistons, giving the Cavs their first two-game winning streak in six weeks. They also recorded their third triumph in the past five games.
Lue stuck with the new group until 3:46 remained, when he lifted Frye and Green and replaced them with Kevin Love and J.R. Smith. The Cavs led 108-100 when the two departed.
Seeking camaraderie anywhere they can find it, the Cavs had a rare on-court display with 7:35 left in the second quarter. After a rebound slam by Frye, Smith ran past halfcourt to shoulder-bump him and Love followed to congratulate his locker-mate.
James led the Cavs with 25 points, eight rebounds and 14 assists and Love scored 20 points with 11 rebounds.
Coming off a season-high 23 points on Friday against the Pacers, Smith continued his slump-busting streak with 15 points, making 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Isaiah Thomas added 14 points with seven assists. Crowder and Korver had 12 points each, with Korver scoring nine in the fourth quarter.
Love, who had averaged nine shots a game in January, totaled that many by halftime. With Love playing power forward and Tristan Thompson taking over at center for the second consecutive game, the lineup change seemed to get Love more involved, with some of his shots going to point guard Thomas, playing his 10th game and making his ninth start in his comeback from a torn labrum in his right hip.
The Cavs opened a 10-point lead (25-15) in the first quarter, with Love scoring nine of those and Thompson seven. The Cavs led 33-28 after the first quarter, even though James had just five points and had made 1-of-5 field goals.
But the Cavs made just 1-of-7 field goals to open the second quarter as the Pistons pulled ahead 37-35. James finished the half with 11 points, making 3-of-8 shots, along with four rebounds and five assists.
The Cavs used a 10-0 run in the third quarter to forge ahead 90-85 and led 90-87 going into the final period. In the run, Thomas scored five, including two driving layups, one off a Frye screen. Korver added his first 3-pointer of the game and Green a fast-break slam.
In pregame, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy put little stock in the Cavs' chemistry issues, pointing to the fact that they have now won 16 of their last 18 home games. When the pressure of expectations for a James-led team was mentioned, Van Gundy joked that he would happily take the best player in the game off the Cavs' hands.
The Cavs were without guard Dwyane Wade for the second consecutive game. Wade was excused to be with his agent and father figure Henry "Hank" Thomas, who passed away Saturday morning in Chicago. Lue said Wade might rejoin the team in Detroit for Tuesday's game.
Considering the Cavs' issues on defense and the slow start by Thomas, Lue admitted that a 7-7 January would be an accomplishment. He saw improvement in Friday's home victory over the Indiana Pacers, who had beaten the Cavs in the three previous meetings this season.
The Cavs finish the month with a game Tuesday at Detroit and a home game Wednesday against the Miami Heat.
"That would be a great thing," Lue said of 7-7. "I think we took some steps forward in the Indiana game we lost (Jan. 12) and Golden State (Jan. 15) and then we took some steps backwards. But last game I thought defensively changed a few things, it was pretty good for us. I just thought our turnovers and shot selection hurt us defensively. But, overall in the half-court defense we were pretty good."
