Tuesday's NBA highlights

INDEPENDENCE, OHIO – The reoccurring saga between LeBron James and Kevin Love turned again Tuesday, but James didn't seem to take offense to Love choosing the Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook for Most Valuable Player.

"Kev has his own opinion who he believes is MVP," James said. "No one should fault him for that."

The latest brush fire occurred Monday when Love said on Dan Patrick's radio show he would choose Westbrook, the Thunder's All-Star guard and his former UCLA teammate, as the league's MVP this season over James.

As for the latest turn in the Love-James relationship, it follows a strange exchange earlier this season when James sent a tweet encouraging people to fit in rather than trying to fit out. It was the same language used by Love earlier in the season when he said teammates were encouraging him to "fit out" and be himself rather than trying to fit in.

James initially denied the tweet was Love-based, then later told a small group of reporters it was aimed at his teammate.

HIGHLIGHTS

• WESTBROOK, KANTER DOUBLE UP: It wasn't a triple-double, but Russell Westbrook notched a double-double (27 points, 11 assists) as did his teammate Enes Kanter (25 points, 16 rebounds) en route to the Thunder's 127-117 victory over the visiting Lakers, who lost for the 10th time in the past 12 games.

• BUZZER BEATER: Khris Middleton, who had hit only one of seven three-point attempts up until this point, hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired to give the host Bucks a 89-88 victory over the Heat. Middleton finished with 13 points while teammates Ersan Ilyasova, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zaza Pachulia recorded double-doubles.

• ELLIS STARS: Monta Ellis notched a game-high and tied a season-high with 38 points as the host Mavericks defeated the Spurs 101-94. Ellis made 16 of 27 shots in helping the Mavericks shoot 48.3 percent.

• COUSINS GETS FREE: DeMarcus Cousins' 33-point, 17-rebound effort fueled the Kings to a 107-106 victory over the visiting 76ers. Cousins was 17-for-19 at the free-throw line. The 76ers attempted 21 for the game.

• CURRY LETS IT FLY: Stephen Curry scored 33 points while shooting 13-for-22 from the field and 5-for-9 from beyond in the arc in the visiting Warriors' 122-108 victory over the Trail Blazers.