Tristan Thompson produces a career night to lead Cleveland Cavaliers past New Jersey Nets -NBA Recap
Rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson combined to give a hi-octane performance against New Jersey Nets on Monday night. Thompson tallied a carrier high 27 points to go with 12 boards while Irving poured in 26 to help the Cavs
edge out Nets, 105-100, at the Prudential Center.
Nets coach Avery Johnson lavished the rookie duo on their electrifying performance.
"One rookie did a great job of rebounding the basketball, and the other rookie made some tough shots over some of our long defenders."
Antawn Jamison dropped 13, Donald Sloan collected 11 points coming off the bench while reserve Samardo Samuels recorded 10 as Cleveland banked their 17th victory of this season.
Deron Williams netted a game high 28 points for Nets while forward Gerald Wallace chipped in with 27 points and 12 boards. Kris Humphries also had a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards. Rookie MarShon Brooks had 10 points
as New Jersey skidded down to a 3 game losing streak.
After some seesaw action Cavs took an early 11-7 lead in the opening frame however the Nets trimmed that down to 15-11 midway.
Cleveland pulled the trigger with a huge 15-6 run at that point and widened the gap to 30-15. Humphries chipped in with a pair from charity stripe by the end of segment to reduce the gap to 30-17.
Cavs had increased their advantage to 42-28 early in the 2nd but New Jersey brushed that aside with a 17-7 run, shaving off the double digit lead down to 49-45 late in the first half. The Cavs managed to take a 53-50
lead into the break.
Nets maintained the momentum in the second half and with 7:30 to go in the third frame, the scores at 61-63, New Jersey changed hands 68-63 after reeling a 7-nothing run. The away side reclaimed a 76-70 lead though after a 13-2
spurt shortly afterwards.
Nets scored 4 unanswered points to trim down the lead to 76-74 at the end of 3rd period.
The fourth quarter was a tight affair and with 2:40 in hand the scores were tied at 95 apiece. The Cavs pulled away with an 8-2 run in the ensuing passage but Green shaved off the Nets deficit to 103-100 by hitting one from down
town with only 19.5 clicks in hand.
Irving finally unfolded the drama by hitting a pair from charity stripe to help Cavs bank their dramatic 105-100 victory.
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