clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Nets fall to Cavs as LeBron James hits game-winner

By Anthony Puccio
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Nets were one stop away from delivering the Cavaliers their first loss at home on the season. They fell short after a game-winning floater from LeBron James, losing 90-88 in Cleveland.

Just like they ALMOST delivered the Warriors their first loss of the season.

It was another great game for the Nets starters. As usual, they held their own in the first quarter and held the Cavs to 17 points, marking their best defensive first quarter of the season.

The Nets led all the way until the third quarter. The Cavs gained a one-point lead after nailing five-third quarter threes. But the Nets didn't fold. They went on an 11-0 run and led by seven late in the fourth.

But as you may know, the Cavs have a guy named LeBron James and he's pretty good.

Behind the aggressive play of LeBron (and a few questionable no-calls), the Cavs went on an 8-0 run late and barely regained the lead by one with 34 seconds remaining.

Joe Johnson hero ball initially failed after missing a turnaround jumper, but the old Nets hero made up for the miss after getting fouled behind the three-point line with 14 seconds left. He nailed all three and it was a tie game, 88-88.

But LeBron is a force that has to be reckoned with.

King James let the clock wind down as he drove across the lane and nailed a Magic Johnson-like floater with one second left. The Nets had no timeouts left and Jarrett Jack was forced to heave a half-court shot that barely missed.

James finished with 26 points and nine rebounds.

The Nets will now travel home for eight of the next nine games and that one away game is at Madison Square Garden.

Jarrett Jack had 8 assists in his first 16 minutes. He ranks seventh in assists with 6.8 per game in 31.9 mins. He finished with a career-high 14 assists but shot a poor 3-of-13 from the floor.

The Nets finished with 21 assists but still failed to nail the deep ball consistently (4-for-17). That's ugly.

What definitely isn't ugly is the play of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson this season.

Hollis-Jefferson is making an impact like very few other rookies around the league. Even though he hasn't even fully developed a shot. Instead, RHJ does the little things that lead to bigger things and Saturday, he finished with 10 rebounds and five steals.

Brook Lopez led the Nets with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Thaddeus Young put home 16 points and 12 rebounds. Johnson chipped in 17.

For Cleveland, Kevin Love dropped 26 on the night, stretching the floor for Cleveland throughout.

"We had our chances down the stretch, we had our opportunities," Hollins said. "It was a hard-fought competitive battle."

For more on the Cleveland Cavaliers, check them out at Fear The Sword.

More From NetsDaily