Wolves 87, Cavaliers 104

O’Neal, making his first appearance in Minnesota with Cleveland, had only six points and seven rebounds, but James filled in with a game-high 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists. The Cavaliers might have been the NBA’s best 0-2 team. There might have been few league observers who expected the Cavaliers, definitive Eastern Contenders, to open up 0-3.

The Wolves, who fell to 1-1, got 17 points from rookie point guard Jonny Flynn and 12 from Al Jefferson.

Minnesota’s only real threat to the Cavaliers’ dominance came in — as usual — the second quarter. Cleveland had been outscored 60-34 in the period in its first two games, and Brown emphasized to his team the importance of maintaining their composure and intensity when James sat down to rest.