Cavs prove they can win without LeBron

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to go through a transition period with forward LeBron James shelved for the next two weeks and center Anderson Varajeo out for the rest of the season.

They were up to the challenge on Friday night, snapping a three-game losing streak with a 91-87 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Kevin Love led the way with 27 points and Kyrie Irving added 23, and the Cavs fought back from an 11-point first-half deficit to lead by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter.

Coach David Blatt said he is pleased with the way the Cavs are dealing with their current realities. They didn’t shoot particularly well, finishing at 37.9 percent from the field, but they committed only seven turnovers and seemingly raised their level of play as the game wore on.

“It’s not easy to play with a different roster every night, and that’s basically what’s happened to us since Andy went down,” Blatt said. “That throws a team into a certain kind of flux. I’m not making any excuses for anything or anybody, but that’s our reality. When you lose a main guy, and then another main guy, and then suddenly you’re trying to figure out how to play together with different lineups and different guys on the floor, you need a little time to find your way.

“What I liked tonight was that we competed, and we played intelligently, and we knew how to hold onto a lead when we had it.”

Blatt vowed no major changes while James heals from knee and lower back issues, and said he hopes that the Cavs can improve their chemistry for when James returns.

“This is an opportunity for us to execute our offense better, to move the ball, to find the right shots for the right people at the right times,” Blatt said. “There is nothing that could happen these next few weeks without LeBron that is going to mean we have made some huge change in the team.

“We’re missing the best player in the world right now. We want him to come back fast, but only when he’s healthy. And we’ll continue to play properly, so that when he comes back he comes into a more functional situation.”

Love, who was questionable coming into the game because of back spasms and then took a nasty fall in the third quarter, finished 9 of 15 from the field. He hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter, and then hit the biggest shot of the game down the stretch — a fallaway jumper at the shot-clock buzzer to give the Cavs an 88-83 lead with 23.4 seconds left.

Irving was just 8 of 27 from the field but hit three free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the win.

The Cavs (19-14) also got 17 points from guard Dion Waiters, and 14 points and 14 rebounds from forward Tristan Thompson.

“We had a lot of guys tonight who made some big plays and had their moments,” Love said. “I think when we run our sets and keep our turnovers down, we’re a very good team. I think we did that tonight.

“Obviously we’re better with the big fella out there as well, but I think we were simplifying things and running our sets as close as we could to perfect.”

The Hornets (10-24) lost their fifth straight.

Guard Gerald Henderson led the way with 14 points, forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and guard Gary Neal scored 11. But guard Kemba Walker struggled through a four for 16 shooting performance, was held to 10.

The Hornets are also in a transition period, with center Al Jefferson lost for the next four weeks with a strained groin and guard Lance Stephenson still nursing a pelvic strain.

“We were good enough except for the third quarter,” said Hornets coach Steve Clifford, who bemoaned 15 turnovers. “We just cannot turn the ball over. With Al being hurt, it’s not going to be possible for us to win with that many turnovers, unless our defense is just ridiculously good.”

“It’s always tough in this league when you turn the ball over,” Walker said. “Teams are going to capitalize off your turnovers. We’ve got to do a better job at protecting the basketball.”

NOTES: The Cavs won the only previous game between the teams this season, 97-88 in Cleveland on Dec. 15. The Cavs opened that game with a 21-0 run. … The teams will meet one more time, in Cleveland on Jan. 23. … Cavs F Tristan Thompson played in his 239th straight game, which is the third-longest active streak in the NBA. Clippers C DeAndre Jordan (273 straight) and Pacers F Luis Scola (263) are the top two. … Hornets F Noah Vonleh was back after being recalled from Fort Wayne of the NBDL on Wednesday. … The Cavs lead the league in fewest fouls, and the Hornets are second. But 47 personal fouls were called on Friday night. … The Hornets will now hit the road for games at Orlando on Saturday and at Boston on Monday. … The Cavs will return home to face Dallas on Sunday afternoon.