Nets 103, Cavaliers 100: Brook Lopez racked up 35 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as host Brooklyn won its second straight game since P.J. Carlesimo took over as interim coach following Avery Johnson's firing.
Deron Williams contributed 15 points and seven assists while Joe Johnson added 15 points for the Nets, who have won consecutive games for just the second time this month after reeling off two five-game winning streaks in November.
Reserve forward C.J. Miles scored 22 of his season-high 33 points in first half for Cleveland, which has lost two straight and 12 of 15. Tristan Thompson contributed 17 points and 15 rebounds while Kyrie Irving added 13 points and seven assists for the Cavaliers.
The Nets' lead was as large as 15 in the first quarter, but Cleveland pulled within 61-53 at halftime and was down 79-78 with 11:26 left. The Cavaliers didn't make another field goal for almost four minutes, however, and didn't get that close again until Irving's 3-pointer made it 101-100 with five seconds left. Irving got a chance to tie it at the buzzer but misfired on a long 3-pointer.
Lopez, who scored 21 of his points in the first half, recorded the highest point total by a Nets player this season. He set a season high for points and matched his highest rebound total of the campaign.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Cavaliers were without F Anderson Varejao, who averages 14.1 points and an NBA-best 14.4 rebounds, for the sixth consecutive game because of a bruised right knee. … Lopez has recorded at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in three consecutive games, matching the longest such streak of his career. He has six double-doubles in nine games since returning from a foot injury. … Miles was 8-of-10 from 3-point range, but the rest of the Cavaliers were a combined 1-of-10.
Cleveland | Brooklyn | |
CJ Miles 33 | Scoring | Brook Lopez 35 |
Kyrie Irving 7 | Assists | Deron Williams 7 |
Tristan Thompson 15 | Rebounds | Brook Lopez 11 |
Tristan Thompson 7 | Free Throws Made | Brook Lopez 9 |
Alonzo Gee 3 | Steals | Reggie Evans 3 |
Tristan Thompson 2 | Blocks | Andray Blatche 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Cleveland | 100 | 46.3 | 9-20 | 15-19 | 21 | 40 | 2 | 7 | 18 |
Brooklyn | 103 | 46.7 | 4-15 | 29-39 | 15 | 39 | 4 | 12 | 14 |