CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In the past, playing against an NBA bottom feeder would lead to a Cleveland Cavaliers letdown.

But that wasn't a problem against the two-win Dallas Mavericks, as the Cavaliers built a 45-point lead before cruising to a 128-90 win Friday night.

"It was a horrible performance by us and a great performance by them," Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said. "We simply must play better. We must compete better. It's very disappointing."

Here are five observations:

Picking up where he left off - Kevin Love didn't drop 40 points on Friday night, but that's because, in large part, the Cavaliers didn't need that kind of effort to dismantle the hapless Mavericks.

Still, his hot streak continued, as Love scored 27 points on 8-of-14 from the field, including 7-of-9 from beyond the arc.

While Love has played at a high level all season -- something head coach Tyronn Lue believes traces back to the strenuous conditioning work he did in the off-season, including a trip to Utah in the high altitude -- his 3-point shooting has led to a recent scoring surge.

"Early, he hesitated, shot faked, side stepped and your percentages go down on any shooter," Lue said. "Just take your shot in rhythm and that's what he's been doing the last couple of games. I think we're going to see this for a while."

Prior to Wednesday's scoring outburst, a record-setting game that featured a career-high eight triples, Love had made just 18 3-pointers in the first 12 games. With his seven bombs on Friday, Love has made 15 in the last two games.

"I think it's make or miss, but also shooting my shots that are there and not hesitating on them," Love said. "I've been catching them in rhythm and shooting."

While watching film with assistant coach Phil Handy, Love noticed that he was pump-faking too much to try to get into the lane or to the free-throw line. He's made a concerted effort to correct that.

"So many guys close out to me so hard, but having my size I'm able to get the ball off quick if I just catch and shoot," he said. "I think I saw that and I've been able to do that. That's only going to open up more for everybody. Feels good right now."

Lue's prediction - Despite a sizzling start, Lue said recently the team was capable of playing better. Turns out, he was right. Since a road loss against Indiana, with LeBron James resting, the Cavs have topped Detroit, Portland and Dallas by an average of 16.6 points.

"We've been talking about it, but I thought our team could shoot better," Lue said Friday. "The last couple games the guys have been shooting really well. I mean, we shoot 47 percent from three and J.R. (Smith) went 1-for-10 and he had some wide-open shots. If we shoot the ball like this we're hard to beat."

On Friday, Kyrie Irving went 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. James was 2-of-5. James Jones came off the bench and buried all three of his attempts. As a team, the Cavs finished 20-of-43, becoming the first team in NBA history to make at least 20 3-pointers in back-to-back games.

Over the last three games, the Cavs are 52-of-104 (50 percent) from beyond the arc.

"That's what we're capable of, and we've been doing it on both ends the last couple games," James said.

All about effort - It's hard to quibble too much with James about the defense. However, Friday should be graded on a curve.

The rebuilding Mavericks are the NBA's worst team. They entered Friday night ranked last in scoring (91.6), second to last in field goal percentage (41.0) and tied for last in 3-point shooting (31.9 percent).

"Just to play the game the right way," Lue said when asked how to judge the defense. "Don't get sloppy, don't get careless with the basketball. We just told our guys, 'Come out, play the right way, compete defensively and play the game the right way.'"

When James wasn't dancing with his teammates on the bench during the blowout, he was watching for the same.

"I think the effort," James said. "I mean, so many great teams, so many great sets, so many great players that teams are going to score. But if you're giving effort, you're contesting shots, multiple effort, if something breaks down but your team is covering for you, if they make the shot you can live with that."

The Mavericks are the seventh team the Cavs have held below the 100-point mark.

LeBron's assists - James finished with 11 assists in 29 minutes. That marks back-to-back games with double-digit helpers.

After averaging 6.8 assists per game last season, James is averaging a career-best 9.5 this year. He has already recorded double figures in the category six times in 14 games, something that didn't happen until game No. 51 last season.

"Guys are making shots," James said. "For me, I just have to put the ball where all they have to do is catch and finish. It's my responsibility to know my guys like the ball -- no seams or with seams."

Wait, what? How does a player even do that? Or think about that as the game is going on?

"Just gotta get the ball right in my hand before I throw it," he said. "I know the guys on our team that don't like seams and I know the guys that like seams. I know the guys that like the ball high and I know the guys that like it low or in the midsection so I know exactly where my guys want the ball and just try to put it there on time and on target where all they have to do is catch and fire."

It also helps that Irving is healthy to start the season and James doesn't have to carry as much of an offensive burden.

After Irving's 25-point night, he reclaimed the team lead in scoring. If that holds for the season, it would be the first time in James' illustrious career a teammate edged him in that category. Meanwhile, Love is one of two players (Anthony Davis is the other) averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Being surrounded by "snipers" is another reason for the uptick, as six of James' 11 assists led to 3's on Friday.

LeBron's turn? When Love erupted for 34 points in the first quarter Wednesday, he outscored the Blazers by himself, 34-31.

Irving did the same against the Mavericks. He hit all seven of his shot attempts, scoring 19 points. Dallas finished the first period with 16 on 7-of-23 from the field.

That's two members of the Big Three, leaving James as odd man out.

"I said that on the bench too. I said we're at a point now where we're having one individual outscore opponents," James said. "I said it's my turn to do it on Sunday. We can hold Philly to zero and I will score two. See how good we play defensively."