Delonte West finished with 21 points in Wednesday's win in Minnesota. Scott Cunningham NBAE/Getty Images

The Cavaliers (now 21-4) and the Timberwolves (now 4-21) are teams going in two different directions and that path availed itself in the final period in Minneapolis – with the Wine and Gold outscoring the T-Wolves, 30-14, to pull away for the 93-70 win.

LeBron James led everyone with 32 points – including 14 in the fourth quarter – going 14-for-20 from the floor with six boards, three assists, and a pair of steals and blocked shots. LeBron had to go almost 40 minutes to help extinguish the Wolves, and his effort was appreciated even by the Target Center faithful, who gave James a standing ovation when he left the game with 3:20 to play.

The Cavaliers led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but behind Al Jefferson, the T-Wolves kept within striking distance – closing Cleveland’s advantage to one, 57-56, with 3:30 to play in the third. But it was too much LeBron in the fourth, as the Cavaliers shot 63 percent from the floor to the T-Wolves’ 29. Jefferson was 3-of-6 in the final period; the rest of the team went 2-of-11.

Delonte West chipped in with a season-high 21-point effort – going 9-for-16 from the floor and getting to the rim seemingly at will. West also led the Wine and Gold with five dimes and added a pair of steals.

“My teammates and my coaches believe in me as a jump shooter and they want me taking the outside shot, but you know yourself when your shot is not falling and you're just not in the same rhythm,” said West. “So I just came out with a conscious effort trying to get a little more high-percentage shots.”

Anderson Varejao, getting his third straight start in place of the injured Zydrunas Ilgauskas, doubled-up with 13 points and 11 boards. And Wally Szczerbiak closed out the Cavaliers in double-figures with 10 points to go with five boards against his former club.

The Cavaliers continue their three-game roadie on Friday night when they travel to Denver to take on a hot Nuggets team that they defeated back on November 13 at The Q.

2. Wednesday night’s win over Minnesota was the Cavaliers’ sixth straight against the Timberwolves, including their fourth straight at the Target Center.

3. Aside from his 15 points a game, another thing that Zydrunas Ilgauskas provides the Cavaliers’ offense is the ability to space the floor – something Mike Brown has always coveted.

“He’s a guy who’s 7-3 who can knock down an NBA three-pointer, so when he’s out there, he takes the opponent’s big guy out and he has to be guarded by that guy,” said Brown. “And so it opens up driving lanes for our ball-handlers. It’s a little bit of an adjustment because of what (Ilgauskas) can do with the basketball.”

4. Before the game, Big Z relayed a good story that happened years ago at the Target Center. It was before he was drafted and the Timberwolves were looking at him as a potential first-rounder. On the practice court, a cameraman filming practice dropped a tripod and almost hit Ilgauskas in the head. As for the near-miss, Big Z quipped: “It might not have killed me, but it would have hurt. This would be called the ‘Z Center’ instead of the ‘Target Center.’ I’d be owner, GM and coach.”

5. LeBron wasn’t the only Cavalier to get a warm ovation in Minneapolis. Wally Szczerbiak, who was drafted by the T-Wolves in 1999 and played the first six-and-a-half years of his career there – including an All-Star appearance in 2005-06 – got a nice round of applause when he entered the game midway through the first period.

6. In his last three games as a starter, Anderson Varejao is averaging 13.6 points on 17-for-30 shooting, adding 8.6 boards per contest.

7. In the tunnel before each game, that night’s referees walk through in street clothes. And invariably when referee Joey Crawford – who has a league-wide rep as a tough guy with a penchant for the quick hook – comes through, there’s always a murmur about which player might get tossed that night. LeBron James was asked if he ever pays attention to who’s refereeing a game on any given night.

“We do get the scouting reports on the refs that are doing the game, but we never say, ‘Oh man, we got him tonight,’” said LeBron. “You try to go out there and play as well as you can and see how the game’s being officiated that night. Some games, no matter who you have, you have to see how the game’s being officiated – if they’re letting you play physical or if they’re not. You just have to adjust to that.”

8. Some quick observations from the Target Center: For some reason, they played the theme from HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” during the Cavaliers’ player introductions. The P.A. announcer only says players’ last name (e.g. “James” “Williams”) when an opponent scores. Walking vendors sell “hot, fresh mini-donuts.” The Wolves’ dance team wears pumps during player introductions. Their mascot, Crunch, gave some guy – posing as a Cavalier fan – a Gatorade bath to the delight of the crowd. As the Cavs were pulling away in the fourth quarter, the following could be heard among those fans who stayed: “Bring back Sprewell!” “Bring back Sam Cassell!” “Fire McHale!” and finally, in a reference to their Draft Day trade for Kevin Love, a group of fans were chanting “O.J. May-O!”

9. Heading into Wednesday’s game, the Cavaliers were in the top five of several NBA categories. They rank No. 1 in overall opponents’ points per game (90.0); No. 1 in converting points off turnovers (19.8 per game); No. 2 in overall defensive field goal percentage (.420); No. 2 in opponent rebounding, holding teams to 37.4 boards per game; No. 4 in offensive field goal percentage (.476); and No. 5 in scoring, at 102.7 points per outing.

10. Former Buckeye standout and current Minnesota Viking, Antoine Winfield, was in attendance for Wednesday night’s game. After the contest, a reporter pointed out to LeBron James that the first-time Pro Bowl cornerback is from Ohio. LeBron responded that he was actually from Akron. The reporter glibly responded, “That’s where they make tires.” To which LeBron responded: “That’s where they make superstars.”