CLEVELAND -- LeBron James didnt hold back in weighing in on J.R. Smiths contract impasse with the Cavaliers.James feels the Cavs owe the shooting guard, who helped them win an NBA title last season.Negotiations are always two-sides, but J.R. did his part, James said Friday following practice. He showed up every day. ... Became a two-way player, a model citizen in Cleveland and hes a fan favorite, obviously we all know that. All of the sudden now hes a season ticket holder at the Indians games.We just miss him. We miss having him around. Hes a big piece of our team and they just need to get it done, he said.Smith remains unsigned as his agents and the Cavs have been unable to finalize a contract. When the team opened training camp earlier this week, general manager David Griffin said the Cavs have made Smith an incredibly competitive and aggressive offer.The sides, however, remain apart on the length of a deal for Smith, who came to Cleveland in a trade with the New York Knicks midway through the 2014-15 season. He arrived with a reputation for being difficult, but Smith has fit in smoothly with the Cavs and was a key contributor in June when Cleveland overcame a 3-1 deficit in the finals to beat the Golden State Warriors.Smith made $5 million last season and could be seeking a deal for more than double that. With salaries around the league escalating at never-seen-before rates, Smith wants to cash in and hes using his value to the Cavs as leverage.While negotiations go on, Smith attended to Indians games last week.James has been friends with Smith for years and their relationship has grown tighter in Cleveland. They share the same agent, Rich Paul, who also represents forward Tristan Thompson. The Cavs were in a similar situation last year with Thompson, who missed training camp before getting a five-year, $82 million contract extension.James has been through this before and hes not happy about it.I hate coming into another season -- two years in a row -- with one of my big guns not here, James said. So, for a leader of a team and for me personally, I just hate to deal with this (crap) again. Its just too big of a piece to our team to have to deal with in another training camp. Hopefully things get resolved fast, because you know how big and important he is to our team.Beyond Smiths shooting -- hes one of the leagues best 3-point shooters -- hes one of the teams top defensive players and his size and athleticism allow Cavs coach Tyronn Lue to match him up on guards and forwards.James, who has been through the free-agent process several times, remains hopeful Smith will sign soon, but hes bracing himself for any outcome.Its like youre buying a house, he said. You can go find a house, you do all the negotiations and all that, but you never got the house until its closed and you got the keys. Last minute someone can step in. Escrow could fall through or something. Then it aint your house no more. So, J.R. is a free agent. Hes not ours. Hes still my brother right now. And I feel like when I play 2K17 hes still on the Cavs, so hes on my roster there, but it wouldnt be good if he was not here. It wouldnt be good for any side.Derek Forbort Kings Jersey . 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Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal.CLEVELAND -- Jason Kipnis came through in the clutch and survived a mobbing from his teammates.Monday nights 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins in 10 innings wasnt easy on any front for the Cleveland Indians.Kipnis single scored Chris Gimenez and gave the Indians a much-needed victory after a 2-5 road trip.Kipnis lined a 1-0 pitch from Brandon Kintzler (0-1) with one out to left-center to finally break up the scoreless game, sending the Twins to their 11th straight loss.Clevelands second baseman faced another challenge after his game-winner. His teammates chased him into center field where they wrestled him to the ground and piled on top of him.It probably wasnt my best idea to keep screaming `You guys cant bring me down to the rest of them, he said.Cleveland has scored one run or less in seven of its last eight games, but that wasnt a major concern following the game.At this time, its nice to get a win in any form, Kipnis said. Hopefully the more wins we get, the more relaxed we can be.Indians manager Terry Francona isnt picky about how his team goes about winning.We talk about it all the time, he said. You want to be one run better. Winning 1-0 in extra innings is heck of a lot better than losing 1-0.Abraham Almonte pushed a bunt past Kintzler and beat the throw to first to start the inning. Gimenez fouled off two bunt attempts before poking a single through the right side with Almonte moving to second.Third baseman Miguel Sano fielded Rajai Davis slow roller and tagged Almonte. Kipnis then hit the second pitch from Kintzler to end the tight game, which drew only 11,327 fans.Zach McAllister (3-2) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th, retiring Max Kepler on a fly ball to end the inning.The losing streak is Minnesotas longest since Sept. 9-21, 2011.Neither starter was involved in the decision.dddddddddddd Trevor Bauer allowed five hits in six innings for Cleveland while Hector Santiago gave up three hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Twins.Andrew Miller of the Indians struck out two with runners on first and third to end the seventh.The AL Central leaders have struggled against the last-place Twins this season. Cleveland is 6-8 versus Minnesota and 29-9 against the rest of the division.When youre trying to find a way out of something like this, you need to make your breaks or have things go your way, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. But thats baseball, you never know from day to day if youre going to be in a pitchers duel or a slugging contest.THE ROAD BACKIndians outfielder Michael Brantley has his right arm in a sling after having season-ending surgery for biceps tendinitis on his shoulder Aug. 15. He had the stitches removed Monday and is expected to be ready when spring training begins. Brantley had surgery for a torn labrum in November and played in only 11 games.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: LHP Buddy Boshers (left elbow inflammation) was scheduled to pitch one inning Monday for Triple-A Rochester. He has been on the 15-day DL since Aug. 11.Indians: C Yan Gomes (separated right shoulder) has started hitting drills and will DH when he begins a minor league rehab assignment.UP NEXTTwins: LHP Andrew Albers, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 26, makes his first start of the season. He has a 4.32 ERA in two relief appearances with Minnesota.Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin has lost his last five starts, allowing 30 earned runs in 25 innings (10.80 ERA) since the start of August. He is 11-8 with a 4.70 ERA on the season. ' ' '