Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Preview: Cavs Aim to Solidify Top Spot Against Bottom-Seeded Nets
Top-ranked Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking to further cement their position in the number one spot of the Eastern Conference rankings as they take on the 14th-seeded Brooklyn Nets.
The fourth game between both teams is set to take place on Thursday, March 31, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
The first game between Cleveland and Brooklyn early in the season was on November 28, with the Cavaliers winning by just a narrow margin, with a final score of 90-88. It was four-time Most Valuable Player awardee LeBron James who provided the heroics for his team, scoring the game-winning hook shot with a second left in the clock.
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"King James" dropped 26 points that night, along with 9 rebounds and 5 assists, shooting 10 out of 22 from the field, through 35 minutes of playing time.
The second game on January 20 was a more convincing performance for the then visiting Cavaliers, as they emerged victorious with a final score of 91-78. This time around, it was big man Kevin Love's double-double performance that helped Cleveland achieve victory, as he dropped 17 points, 18 rebounds, and two steals, shooting 5 out of 10 from the field, through 31 minutes of playing time.
The third game, however, was an entirely different story from the previous two, as this time around, the Nets were able to come out with the win, with a final score of 104-95.
After leading through three quarters of the game, the Cavaliers were kept at bay through the final period. LeBron James in particular was held scoreless in the fourth.
Center Brook Lopez ended the night with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists, shooting 8 out of 15 from the field, through 31 minutes of playing time. With the loss just happening a week ago, the Cavaliers are still feeling its sting.
Which is why big man Tristan Thompson believes his team simply needs put on a better performance this time around.
"We've just got to play better. We've got to take more responsibility," Thompson said in an NBA.com report.
The Cavaliers hold a record of 52-22, while the Nets hold a 21-53 win-loss slate.
