Antawn Jamison delivers as Cleveland Cavaliers down New Jersey Nets 98-82 - NBA Recap
NBA is strange.
Kyrie Irving, who hails from New Jersey, grew up supporting his home team New Jersey Nets and just few hours back, he helped Cleveland Cavaliers in beating his childhood favorite team 98-82.
Irving, the number 1 pick of 2011 NBA draft was selected by Cavaliers in a hope that the young point guard could soon make the franchise a championship contender, muck like the days of the now scorned LeBron James. Irving, so far
has indicated that he is up to the challenge and on the night, he pounded 13 points on 3 for 4 from the downtown to help the Cavs in sending Nets to their 4th consecutive loss.
"I even was up in the cheap seats for the (2003) NBA Finals with my dad and sister," he said post game. "I'm in Cleveland now, so me being a Nets fan is kind of out the window. It's a great win for our team."
However, Irving was not the most outstanding player of the night.
Antawn Jamison marshalled the Cavs with a game high 23 points on 10 for 15 from the floor including an accurate 3 for 3 from the long range. Daniel Gibson came off the bench to add 19 while Alonzo Gee had 11 points.
The Cavs were hot from distance and shot an outstanding 16 for 26 from the downtown. Overall they shot 48.7 % in contrast to Nets 38 % and outclassed Nets in both rebounds (36-32) and assists (24-16).
Deron Williams paced the Nets with 16 points while Anthony Morrow bundled 15. Sundiata Gaines and Kris Humphries both registered 11 each while Mehmet Okur and Damion James drained 10 apiece.
After scores were tied at 43 all with two minutes remaining in the game, Williams and Gaines ensured, Nets enter the second half with a psychological advantage by fuelling a 6-0 run to make it 49-43.
Nets managed to maintain a distance in the first three minutes of the third frame, however three consecutive three’s in the next minute by Cavs got them close at 54-57. The Cavs continued the attack and bolted off an 8-4 spurt
to get in front 62-61 and after that, never trailed again.
Nets coach Avery Johnson was disappointed with the loss and summing up the game he said;
"We had a really good run in the first half, but in the second half, they got hot from the 3-point line. Boy, they caught fire. They had a little more energy and bounce in their step coming out of halftime."
Nets tried to fight back and answered with a 9-5 run in the starting minutes of the deciding frame to get as close as 76-78, however it was followed by a game deciding 14-2 burst, capped by Jamison’s layup, that pushed Nets completely out of the game.
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