• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

November 28, 2015, Queens, NY  The Nets went up against the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and distinguished themselves. In fact, they more than distinguished themselves as they went toe-to-toe with the Cavaliers losing on a last second runner by LeBron James. The final score was 90-88, and the game was as close as the score indicated.

The Nets jumped out to a 7-2 lead, built the lead to 19-10, and ended the quarter up 24-17. Brook Lopez had 10 points in the opening quarter, and LeBron James had only 2 points.

In the second quarter, the Net maintained their lead and went up by as many as 12 points (39-27) with 5:23 left before halftime. In a 40-second span, the Net’s lead was cut to 39-34 as the Nets committed a series of turnovers. The Cavaliers closed the gap to 3 points, 47-44, but a three-pointer by Jarrett Jack gave the Nets a 50-44 lead going into the third quarter. Lopez had 16 points, and Jarrett Jack had 8 points and 8 assists. Mo Williams led the Cavaliers with 12 points. Kevin Love and LeBron James scored 11-10 points  respectively.

The third quarter proved to be hotly contested. The Cavaliers scored the first 4 points, cutting the lead to 50-48. The two teams traded baskets until the Cavaliers inched closer and eventually tied the score at 58. It was the first time the score was tied since 2-2. The Cavaliers took their first lead, 61-60, at the 4:49 mark. The teams traded baskets, but the Cavaliers got a trey from Kevin Love to end the quarter leading 72-70.

The fourth quarter was very spirited. The Cavaliers went up by four which was their largest lead to that point at the 8:16 mark, 74-70. The Nets tied the score at 76, and then reeled off another 7 points to cap off an 11-0 run. LeBron hit a three and then made a three-point play to pull the Cavaliers within one, 83-82. Tristan Thompson scored to give the Cavaliers and 84-83 lead. An apparent basket by Lopez was waved off as he was called for an offensive foul. The Cavaliers returned the favor turning the ball over with 1:41 left. Joe Johnson hit two free throws to give the Nets a one-point lead, but the Cavaliers responded with a basket by Tristan Thompson to go up 86-85. LeBron James stole the ball but heaved a three that missed. The Nets immediately called timeout, with 33.7 seconds left. Joe Johnson backed J. R. Smith down and missed. LeBron James was fouled, and he made both free throws to give the Cavaliers an 88-85 lead with 16 seconds left. J. R. Smith fouled Joe Johnson who was shooting beyond the arc. Johnson, “Calmly knocked down all three,” stated Ryan Ruocco, play-by-play announcer for the YES Network, tying the game at 88, with 14 seconds left. At that point, the Nets had exhausted all of their timeouts.

Then Bron-Bron hit a runner that gave the Cavaliers the lead 90-88 with one second left on the clock. Game over.

Professor Clifford Benton can be reached at @cliffordbenton.

 

By Vernon McKenzie

Graduate of New Institute Of Technology with a BA in Communications with a focus on Television Radio. Owner and Executive Producer of PureSportsNY

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