Nets Falter In Final Minute Once Again, and Deron Williams Doesn't Want to Talk About It

For the second time in three nights, a Nets game came down to the wire at the Prudential Center. And once again, the Nets got the shots they wanted in the final minute, but couldn't put them in the basket. The Cavaliers did, coming away with a 105-100 victory on Monday.

Cleveland led early and were up 30-15 late in the first quarter. Their lead was 15 again midway through the second, but the Nets closed to within three at the half. They took their first lead midway through the third, but immediately gave it up. The game was tied with less than two minutes to go in the fourth, when Cavs rookies Tristan Thompson and Kyrie Irving put the Cavs up six as Gerald Wallace and Deron Williams each missed drives to the basket.

After Gerald Green hit a three and Irving committed an offensive foul, the Nets had a final chance to tie the game with a three. But Williams threw Kris Humphries a pass he wasn't looking for, and Irving sealed the game at the line.

The Cavs shot 46 percent and grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, the last being Thompson's tip-in for the go-ahead basket. He and Irving combined for 53 points. Williams led the Nets with 28 points and eight assists, but again shot poorly (8-for-23). Wallace added 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Humphries also finished with a double-double. The Nets' bench shot 6-for-19.

After the game, Williams left the locker room without speaking to reporters, the first time he's done that this season.

• Boxscore - NBA.com
• Cavaliers vs. Nets (Video) - NBA.com
• Notebook: Cavaliers 105, Nets 100 - Adam Figman - NBA.com
• Thompson has career-high 27 to lead Cavs past Nets - Tom Canavan - AP
• Nets fall to Cavaliers as playoffs slip further away - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
• Irving makes his Prudential Center debut - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
• Nets' Wallace puts best foot forward - Fred Kerber - New York Post
• Nets loss to Cavs has D-Will tongue-tied - Fred Kerber - New York Post
• Williams, Wallace not enough for Nets - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
• Nets relationship with Brook Lopez is mended, coach says - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
• Nets fall to Cavaliers, 105-100 - Andy Vasquez - The Record
  
• Nets Notes - Andy Vasquez - NJ Nets Nation
• Rapid Reaction: Cavaliers 105, Nets 100 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Here's a first: No D-Will quotes - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• 'Crash' finishes with double-double - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Nets drop another heartbreaker at home (Postgame Video Inside) - Gregory Hrinya - Examiner
• Post Game Plus (Video) - Nancy Newman - YES Network
• From the Booth (Video) - Ian Eagle & Jim Spanarkel - YES Network
• Avery Johnson Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
• Ask the Announcers: Gerald Wallace and St. Patrick (Video) - Ian Eagle & Jim Spanarkel - YES Network
• Mike Fratello and Jessica Taff on the Nets Gerald Wallace & Gerald Green (Video) - YES Network
  
• Deron Williams does not speak to reporters after loss to Cavs - Matt Moore - CBS Sports
  
• Thompson's 27 points, 12 rebounds lead Cavaliers over New Jersey - Tom Reed - Cleveland Plain Dealer
  
• Thompson, Cavs snap losing streak - Jason Lloyd - Akron Beacon Journal
• Rookies Cut Down the Nets - Joe Gabriele - Cleveland Cavaliers
• Irving 'still Aussie at heart' - Jeremy Hatcher - FOX Sports