GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

[NOMAM]

Re: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArgh. Kidd comes in and Sean Williams goes out.</p>

 

[NOMAM]

Re: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

OMG. Nets playing good defense on two possessions.</p>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 39
CLEVELAND 38 2:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[NOMAM]

Re: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

Kidd pushing the ball. Good stuff although some sloppy turnovers but the right mentality.</p>

Pressure the Cavs ball handlers. Not like they're going to burn you like Lebron James.</p>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 47
CLEVELAND 43 HALFTIME</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 19 28 47
CLEVELAND 22 21 43 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 13, VINCE CARTER 9,
JASON KIDD 7
CLE - DREW GOODEN 10, SHANNON BROWN 10, DANIEL
GIBSON 10</div>

 

[Balla 15]

Re: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

Lol these losses have really taken a toll on this board. No game thread and nobody even posting in this thread except NOMAN. Props to you NOMAN</p>

 

[JamCity15]

Re: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

we picked it up second quarter it's a good sign</p>

 

[GMJ]

Re: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Balla 15)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

Lol these losses have really taken a toll on this board. No game thread and nobody even posting in this thread except NOMAN. Props to you NOMAN</p>

</div></p>

balla 15,</p>

Look at page 1</p>

We're in that thread</p>

xoxo,</p>

GMJ</p>

</p>

 

[kdub]

Re: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

Weird, I can't find the game thread either, except for this one.</p>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 56
CLEVELAND 49 8:45 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[pegs]

Re: NBA: NEW JERSEY (8-9) at CLEVELAND (9-9)

Click this! Game thread is in Cleveland Forum!</p>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 63
CLEVELAND 53 5:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 71
CLEVELAND 57 2:40 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 74
CLEVELAND 59 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 19 28 27 74
CLEVELAND 22 21 16 59 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 26, VINCE CARTER 17,
JASON KIDD 7
CLE - SHANNON BROWN 15, DANIEL GIBSON 13, DREW
GOODEN 12</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 79
CLEVELAND 64 9:04 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 87
CLEVELAND 70 5:45 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 91
CLEVELAND 76 2:35 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 97
CLEVELAND 76 0:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 100
CLEVELAND 79 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 19 28 27 26 100
CLEVELAND 22 21 16 20 79 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 36, VINCE CARTER 19,
MALIK ALLEN 10
CLE - SHANNON BROWN 20, DANIEL GIBSON 17, DREW
GOODEN 14</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
NEW JERSEY 100
CLEVELAND 79 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY (100) AT CLEVELAND (79)

NEW JERSEY

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

J KIDD G 30:13 3-8 0-0 1 9 10 6 0 0 5 7
V CARTER G 35:51 7-13 2-2 0 3 3 7 1 1 1 19
R JEFFERSON F 36:57 11-18 13-15 0 2 2 2 1 0 1 36
M ALLEN F 33:31 5-7 0-0 2 7 9 4 1 0 2 10
J COLLINS C 25:12 2-6 3-4 2 2 4 3 3 1 1 7
E GILL 21:34 2-4 4-4 0 3 3 2 1 1 0 10
J MAGLOIRE 20:41 3-4 1-4 1 6 7 2 4 0 0 7
B NACHBAR 18:04 1-3 1-2 2 1 3 0 2 0 0 4
S WILLIAMS 14:29 0-3 0-2 4 4 8 0 0 0 0 0
J BOONE 3:28 0-0 0-2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 34-66 24-35 12 37 49 26 14 3 10 100
(.515) (.686) TEAM REBS: 7 TOTAL TO: 10 (0 PTS)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D GIBSON G 35:21 6-16 1-1 0 6 6 4 4 0 2 17
S PAVLOVIC F 23:30 1-9 0-0 0 0 0 3 1 2 2 2
D GOODEN F 38:26 6-16 2-2 1 4 5 0 1 3 2 14
S BROWN G 36:59 8-16 0-1 1 3 4 4 2 1 3 20
Z ILGAUSKAS C 29:46 1-6 6-6 3 4 7 0 3 0 1 8
DW JONES 27:31 3-4 3-4 8 4 12 1 5 1 1 9
E SNOW 24:59 0-3 1-2 3 3 6 3 4 0 0 1
D BROWN 18:09 3-10 2-3 0 1 1 1 3 2 1 8
DA JONES 3:41 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D NICHOLS 1:38 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 28-81 15-19 16 25 41 16 23 9 12 79
(.346) (.789) TEAM REBS: 3 TOTAL TO: 13 (0 PTS)

NEW JERSEY 19 28 27 26 - 100
CLEVELAND 22 21 16 20 - 79

BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW JERSEY - M ALLEN 2, J MAGLOIRE, E GILL, S WILLIAMS.
CLEVELAND - D GOODEN 3, E SNOW.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW JERSEY 8-15 (.533), J KIDD 1-3, V CARTER 3-
5, R JEFFERSON 1-2, E GILL 2-3, B NACHBAR 1-2. CLEVELAND 8-21 (.381),
D GIBSON 4-8, S PAVLOVIC 0-2, D GOODEN 0-1, S BROWN 4-7, D BROWN 0-
2, DA JONES 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW JERSEY - S WILLIAMS, V CARTER, S WILLIAMS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, DAVID GUTHRIE, KEN MAUER.
A - 19,838. T - 2:10.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY (100)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Kidd 30:13 3-8 0-0 1-10 6 0 7
V Carter 35:51 7-13 2-2 0-3 7 1 19
R Jefferson 36:57 11-18 13-15 0-2 2 1 36
M Allen 33:31 5-7 0-0 2-9 4 1 10
J Collins 25:12 2-6 3-4 2-4 3 3 7
E Gill 21:34 2-4 4-4 0-3 2 1 10
J Magloire 20:41 3-4 1-4 1-7 2 4 7
B Nachbar 18:04 1-3 1-2 2-3 0 2 4
S Williams 14:29 0-3 0-2 4-8 0 0 0
J Boone 3:28 0-0 0-2 0-0 0 1 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-66 24-35 12-49 26 14 100
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.515, FT-.686. 3-Point Goals:
8-15, .533 (J Kidd 1-3, V Carter 3-5, R
Jefferson 1-2, E Gill 2-3, B Nachbar 1-2).
Team Rebounds: 7. Blocked Shots:5 (M Allen 2,
J Magloire, E Gill, S Williams). Turnovers:10
(J Kidd 5, M Allen 2, V Carter, R Jefferson,
J Collins). Steals: 3 (V Carter, J Collins, E
Gill).


CLEVELAND (79)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Gibson 35:21 6-16 1-1 0-6 4 4 17
S Pavlovic 23:30 1-9 0-0 0-0 3 1 2
D Gooden 38:26 6-16 2-2 1-5 0 1 14
S Brown 36:59 8-16 0-1 1-4 4 2 20
Z Ilgauskas 29:46 1-6 6-6 3-7 0 3 8
Dw Jones 27:31 3-4 3-4 8-12 1 5 9
E Snow 24:59 0-3 1-2 3-6 3 4 1
D Brown 18:09 3-10 2-3 0-1 1 3 8
Da Jones 3:41 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
D Nichols 1:38 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-81 15-19 16-41 16 23 79
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.346, FT-.789. 3-Point Goals:
8-21, .381 (D Gibson 4-8, S Pavlovic 0-2, D
Gooden 0-1, S Brown 4-7, D Brown 0-2, Da
Jones 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots:4
(D Gooden 3, E Snow). Turnovers:12 (S Brown
3, D Gooden 2, D Gibson 2, S Pavlovic 2, Z
Ilgauskas, D Brown, Dw Jones). Steals: 9 (D
Gooden 3, D Brown 2, S Pavlovic 2, Dw Jones,
S Brown).

--------------------------------------------
NEW JERSEY 19 28 27 26 - 100
CLEVELAND 22 21 16 20 - 79
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Jersey - 3 (S Williams,
10:10 2nd; V Carter, 6:24 4th; S Williams,
9:03 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,838. T: 2:10.
Officials: Bill Spooner, David Guthrie, Ken
Mauer.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Jeff Brewer
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Nets took full advantageof superstar LeBron James' absence and handed the ClevelandCavaliers their fourth straight loss.


Richard Jefferson scored a season-high 36 points and VinceCarter added 19 as the Nets dominated the third quarter in a100-79 victory at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night.

Jefferson scored 13 points in the first half for New Jersey,which led by just four points at the half and then outscoredCleveland, 27-16, in the third period to take control of thecontest.


It was a small measure of revenge by the Nets, who lost in sixgames to the Cavaliers in the last season's Eastern Conferencesemifinals.


James sprained his left index finger in the second quarter of a109-74 loss at Detroit on Wednesday. The superstar forward hada team-high 15 points in 18 first-half minutes before sittingout the second half of that contest.


That loss was followed by road setbacks at Toronto and Bostonwithout James, who is averaging a league-high 30.7 points, 7.6rebounds and 8.1 assists through 16 games this season.

The Nets scored the first nine points of the third period totake control, 56-43, at the 10:00 mark.


Jefferson, who would have been guarded by James, had a monstergame - converting 11-of-18 from the field and 13-of-15 from theline.


Carter, playing on a sore ankle, shot 7-of-13 from the floor anddoled out seven assists.


Shannon Brown started in place of James and scored 10 first-quarterpoints and finished with a career-high 20. Daniel Gibson knockeddown 4-of-8 3-pointers en route to 17 points for Cleveland.

Ranked seventh in the league in rebounds per game entering thecontest, the Cavaliers were beaten on the glass, 49-41, thanksin part to numerous injuries to key performers besides James.

Donyell Marshall, Larry Hughes, and Cedric Simmons did not play,and Anderson Varejao, who was given an offer sheet by theCharlotte Bobcats on Tuesday, continues his season-long absence.

Jason Kidd had seven points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, wholearned early Monday that general manager Ed Stefanski had leftthe team to take a similar position with the Philadelphia 76ers- replacing the fired Billy King.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY (100) AT CLEVELAND (79)

NEW JERSEY

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

J KIDD G 30:13 3-8 0-0 1 9 10 6 0 0 5 7
V CARTER G 35:51 7-13 2-2 0 3 3 7 1 1 1 19
R JEFFERSON F 36:57 11-18 13-15 0 2 2 2 1 0 1 36
M ALLEN F 33:31 5-7 0-0 2 7 9 4 1 0 2 10
J COLLINS C 25:12 2-6 3-4 2 2 4 3 3 1 1 7
E GILL 21:34 2-4 4-4 0 3 3 2 1 1 0 10
J MAGLOIRE 20:41 3-4 1-4 1 6 7 2 4 0 0 7
B NACHBAR 18:04 1-3 1-2 2 1 3 0 2 0 0 4
S WILLIAMS 14:29 0-3 0-2 4 4 8 0 0 0 0 0
J BOONE 3:28 0-0 0-2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
A WRIGHT DNP - COACH'S DECISION
N KRSTIC DNP - KNEE INJURY

TOTALS 240:00 34-66 24-35 12 37 49 26 14 3 10 100
(.515) (.686) TEAM REBS: 7 TOTAL TO: 10 (15 PTS)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D GIBSON G 35:21 6-16 1-1 0 6 6 4 4 0 2 17
S PAVLOVIC F 23:30 1-9 0-0 0 0 0 3 1 2 2 2
D GOODEN F 38:26 6-16 2-2 1 4 5 0 1 3 2 14
S BROWN G 36:59 8-16 0-1 1 3 4 4 2 1 3 20
Z ILGAUSKAS C 29:46 1-6 6-6 3 4 7 0 3 0 1 8
DW JONES 27:31 3-4 3-4 8 4 12 1 5 1 1 9
E SNOW 24:59 0-3 1-2 3 3 6 3 4 0 0 1
D BROWN 18:09 3-10 2-3 0 1 1 1 3 2 1 8
DA JONES 3:41 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D NICHOLS 1:38 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L JAMES DNP - LEFT INDEX FINGER SPRAIN

TOTALS 240:00 28-81 15-19 16 25 41 16 23 9 12 79
(.346) (.789) TEAM REBS: 3 TOTAL TO: 13 (21 PTS)

NEW JERSEY 19 28 27 26 - 100
CLEVELAND 22 21 16 20 - 79

BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW JERSEY - M ALLEN 2, J MAGLOIRE, E GILL, S WILLIAMS.
CLEVELAND - D GOODEN 3, E SNOW.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW JERSEY 8-15 (.533), J KIDD 1-3, V CARTER 3-
5, R JEFFERSON 1-2, E GILL 2-3, B NACHBAR 1-2. CLEVELAND 8-21 (.381),
D GIBSON 4-8, S PAVLOVIC 0-2, D GOODEN 0-1, S BROWN 4-7, D BROWN 0-
2, DA JONES 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW JERSEY - DEFENSIVE THREE 3.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, DAVID GUTHRIE, KEN MAUER.
A - 19,838. T - 2:10.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY (100)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Kidd 30:13 3-8 0-0 1-10 6 0 7
V Carter 35:51 7-13 2-2 0-3 7 1 19
R Jefferson 36:57 11-18 13-15 0-2 2 1 36
M Allen 33:31 5-7 0-0 2-9 4 1 10
J Collins 25:12 2-6 3-4 2-4 3 3 7
E Gill 21:34 2-4 4-4 0-3 2 1 10
J Magloire 20:41 3-4 1-4 1-7 2 4 7
B Nachbar 18:04 1-3 1-2 2-3 0 2 4
S Williams 14:29 0-3 0-2 4-8 0 0 0
J Boone 3:28 0-0 0-2 0-0 0 1 0
A Wright DNP - COACH'S DECISION
N Krstic DNP - KNEE INJURY

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-66 24-35 12-49 26 14 100
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.515, FT-.686. 3-Point Goals:
8-15, .533 (J Kidd 1-3, V Carter 3-5, R
Jefferson 1-2, E Gill 2-3, B Nachbar 1-2).
Team Rebounds: 7. Blocked Shots:5 (M Allen 2,
J Magloire, E Gill, S Williams). Turnovers:10
(J Kidd 5, M Allen 2, V Carter, R Jefferson,
J Collins). Steals: 3 (V Carter, J Collins, E
Gill).


CLEVELAND (79)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Gibson 35:21 6-16 1-1 0-6 4 4 17
S Pavlovic 23:30 1-9 0-0 0-0 3 1 2
D Gooden 38:26 6-16 2-2 1-5 0 1 14
S Brown 36:59 8-16 0-1 1-4 4 2 20
Z Ilgauskas 29:46 1-6 6-6 3-7 0 3 8
Dw Jones 27:31 3-4 3-4 8-12 1 5 9
E Snow 24:59 0-3 1-2 3-6 3 4 1
D Brown 18:09 3-10 2-3 0-1 1 3 8
Da Jones 3:41 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
D Nichols 1:38 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
L James DNP - LEFT INDEX FINGER SPRAIN

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-81 15-19 16-41 16 23 79
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.346, FT-.789. 3-Point Goals:
8-21, .381 (D Gibson 4-8, S Pavlovic 0-2, D
Gooden 0-1, S Brown 4-7, D Brown 0-2, Da
Jones 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots:4
(D Gooden 3, E Snow). Turnovers:12 (S Brown
3, D Gooden 2, D Gibson 2, S Pavlovic 2, Z
Ilgauskas, D Brown, Dw Jones). Steals: 9 (D
Gooden 3, D Brown 2, S Pavlovic 2, Dw Jones,
S Brown).

--------------------------------------------
NEW JERSEY 19 28 27 26 - 100
CLEVELAND 22 21 16 20 - 79
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Jersey - 3 (Defensive
Three, 10:10 2nd; Defensive Three, 6:24 4th;
Defensive Three, 9:03 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,838. T: 2:10.
Officials: Bill Spooner, David Guthrie, Ken
Mauer.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Jeff Brewer
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Nets took full advantageof superstar LeBron James' absence and handed the ClevelandCavaliers their fourth straight loss.


Richard Jefferson scored a season-high 36 points and VinceCarter added 19 as the Nets dominated the third quarter in a100-79 victory at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night.

Jefferson scored 13 points in the first half for New Jersey,which led by just four points at the half and then outscoredCleveland, 27-16, in the third period to take control of thecontest.


It was a small measure of revenge by the Nets, who lost in sixgames to the Cavaliers in the last season's Eastern Conferencesemifinals.


"Whenever you get an opportunity to play against a team without(James), you have to make sure that you go out there and get itdone," Jefferson said. "With that being said, they still haveenough talent to win.


"We've lost to teams with less than (what they had on Tuesday).There's no such thing as a gimme in this league."


New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank viewed the win more as astarting point, now that the Nets are 9-9.


"When you say LeBron, that's a focal point," Frank said. "We'vebeen through that drill not having Vince, so you can evaluateit based on the players that played. We just have to keepgetting consistent play and effort from everyone."

James sprained his left index finger in the second quarter of a109-74 loss at Detroit on Wednesday. The superstar forward hada team-high 15 points in 18 first-half minutes before sittingout the second half of that contest.


That loss was followed by road setbacks at Toronto and Bostonwithout James, who is averaging a league-high 30.7 points, 7.6rebounds and 8.1 assists through 16 games this season.

"I thought that we as a team felt sorry for ourselves,"Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "Obviously, if LeBron plays,we're a lot better team. But I know for a fact we've wonballgames without LeBron. If he's out, then we have to at leastfight, and that's what we've done in the past."


The Nets scored the first nine points of the third period totake control, 56-43, at the 10:00 mark.


Jefferson, who would have been guarded by James, had a monstergame - converting 11-of-18 from the field and 13-of-15 from theline.


"It was good to see us jump on a team in the third quarter.That's something we haven't done in a while," Carter said."(Jefferson) is showing that, now that he's healthy, he'sdefinitely an All-Star."


Jefferson's performance on Tuesday pushed him past Kerry Kittlesfor second place on the Nets' all-time scoring list with 7,108points.


Carter, playing on a sore lower right leg, shot 7-of-13 from thefloor and doled out seven assists.


"If I'm able to play, then I'm OK, I'll live," Carter said."It's just a weird feeling. A sharp pain shot through (my rightleg), and I had to go in the back and walk it off. I was ableto get back on the floor."


Shannon Brown started in place of James and scored 10 first-quarterpoints and finished with a career-high 20. Daniel Gibson knockeddown 4-of-8 3-pointers en route to 17 points for Cleveland.

"When you have a guy like LeBron that's out, I'm not going tosay it makes the game harder, but he makes it easier for a lotof players," Brown said.


Ranked seventh in the league in rebounds per game entering thecontest, the Cavaliers were beaten on the glass, 49-41, thanksin part to numerous injuries to key performers besides James.

Donyell Marshall, Larry Hughes, and Cedric Simmons did not play,and Anderson Varejao, who was given an offer sheet by theCharlotte Bobcats on Tuesday, continues his season-long absence.

Jason Kidd had seven points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, wholearned early Monday that general manager Ed Stefanski had leftthe team to take a similar position with the Philadelphia 76ers- replacing the fired Billy King.