Final Score: Cavs blowout Pistons 116-88, pick up fifth straight win

The Cleveland Cavaliers are now winners of five straight games, and are playing some of their best basketball of the season.

On Monday night in Detroit, the Cavs beat the Pistons 116-88 in a game that was decided well before the final buzzer. Cleveland 36-23 after the first quarter with LeBron James and Kevin Love combining for 28 points. At the half, the Cavaliers lead the Pistons 73-46 and had dominated for most of the half. The Cavs then kicked it up another notch in the third quarter, leading 96-59 with 1:40 left in the third quarter when James, Love, Jae Crowder and J.R. Smith all checked out of the game for good.

Love lead the way with 19 points for the Cavs, 12 of which came in the first quarter. James added 18 points and eight assists. Crowder also set a new season high with 16 points. Cleveland also made 16 of its 17 free throws in the rout. Tobias Harris lead the Pistons with 11 points.

The Cavs’ 38 point margin of victory set a new season best for team, surpassing the previous margin of 19 points that came in a Oct. 20 win over the Bucks. The Pistons’ 88 points are also the lowest point total Cleveland has held an opponent to so far this season.

The Cavs next play the first of two straight home games Wednesday against the Nets. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena.