GAME THREAD: NBA: CLEVELAND (10-12) at NEW JERSEY (9-13)

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND (10-12) at NEW JERSEY (9-13)

<h3>James, Cavs look to build on success vs. Nets</h3>

<div class="pre">Cleveland (10-12) at New Jersey (9-13) 8:00 pm EST</div>

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - Superstar LeBron Jameslooks to return to the starting lineup as the ClevelandCavaliers visit the New Jersey Nets.


James came back after spending the last five games in streetclothes with a sprained left index fingers to help the Cavs endtheir six-game slide with Tuesday's 118-105 victory overIndiana.


"That was one and done for me," James said about coming off thebench for the first time in his career. "I will not be comingoff the bench anymore."


Wearing a protective padded glove on his hand, James scored 17points in 22 minutes. The 23-year-old All-Star leads the leaguein scoring at 29.9 points.


Cleveland big man Anderson Varejao made his season debut in thewin after ending his contract holdout a week ago by inking athree-year, $17 million deal.


The Nets dropped their fourth straight game with Tuesday's 91-82setback at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers despiteanother triple-double by Jason Kidd.


"This is a veteran ballclub and we've just got to stay together.Fits have already been thrown," Kidd said. "We're trying tofind a way, trying to find anything to get us going in the rightdirection."


New Jersey might enjoy facing Cleveland, which has lost the pastthree meetings - including an impressive 100-79 defeat earlierthis month.

 

[bbwchingy0007]

Re: NBA: CLEVELAND (10-12) at NEW JERSEY (9-13)

http://www.sportstwo.com/Thread/View/NBA/CLEVELAND/2046172

My preview. Good luck tonight guys. So long as you don't win

</p>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT NEW JERSEY - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


CLEVELAND NEW JERSEY

F Drew Gooden F Richard Jefferson
F LeBron James F Malik Allen
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas C Jason Collins
G Aleksandar Pavlovic G Jason Kidd
G Daniel Gibson G Vince Carter

OFFICIALS: Joe Derosa
Ely Roe
Benny Adams</div>

 

[jarkid]

Re: NBA: CLEVELAND (10-12) at NEW JERSEY (9-13)

Varejao, Pavlovic back to form.</p>

S.Brown and D.Jones are their new power,</p>

LeBron is there, and we are playing at our broken house, we are going to lose very soon.</p>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 25
NEW JERSEY 21 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 29
NEW JERSEY 33 8:39 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 37
NEW JERSEY 35 5:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 44
NEW JERSEY 44 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 57
NEW JERSEY 50 HALFTIME</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 25 32 57
NEW JERSEY 21 29 50 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

CLE - DANIEL GIBSON 12, LEBRON JAMES 10, DREW
GOODEN 8
NJN - VINCE CARTER 15, RICHARD JEFFERSON 15,
MARCUS WILLIAMS 7</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 61
NEW JERSEY 57 9:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 69
NEW JERSEY 65 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 75
NEW JERSEY 71 3:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 78
NEW JERSEY 80 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 25 32 21 78
NEW JERSEY 21 29 30 80 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

CLE - ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS 19, LEBRON JAMES 17,
DANIEL GIBSON 12
NJN - VINCE CARTER 22, RICHARD JEFFERSON 22,
BOSTJAN NACHBAR 11</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 82
NEW JERSEY 86 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 84
NEW JERSEY 93 6:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 94
NEW JERSEY 97 2:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 95
NEW JERSEY 103 0:38 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 97
NEW JERSEY 105 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 25 32 21 19 97
NEW JERSEY 21 29 30 25 105 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: CLE - LEBRON JAMES 29, ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS 21,
DREW GOODEN 13
NJN - VINCE CARTER 32, RICHARD JEFFERSON 24,
JOSH BOONE 15</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
CLEVELAND 97
NEW JERSEY 105 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- LeBron James made astellar return to the starting lineup on Friday night. ButVince Carter and Richard Jefferson trumped that performance forthe New Jersey Nets.


Carter scored 32 points and Jefferson added 24 as the strugglingNets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 105-97 victoryover the Cleveland Cavaliers at Izod Center.


With rumors of a trade swirling around the All-Star point guard,Jason Kidd collected eight points, 11 assists and eightrebounds for New Jersey, which has defeated Cleveland fourstraight times - including twice this season.


But the Cavaliers eliminated the Nets in last season's EasternConference semifinals en route to the first NBA Finalsappearance in franchise history.


It has been far from a playoff-caliber campaign so far for NewJersey, which now is just 5-9 at home and has endured thedeparture of general manager Ed Stefanski to the Philadelphia76ers.


Carter, who has been booed by the home crowd this season becauseof sluggish play, played well in this one, shooting 13-of-22and adding seven rebounds and six assists. Jefferson was7-of-16 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line.

New Jersey overcame the play of James, who played his secondgame - first start - since missing five contests with a sprainedleft index finger. The NBA's leading scoring entering Friday'splay, James had 29 points, eight assists and six rebounds inthis one.


Zydrunas Ilgauskas collected 21 points and 12 rebounds forCleveland, which was outscored by New Jersey, 55-40, in thesecond half.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (97) AT NEW JERSEY (105)

CLEVELAND

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

D GIBSON G 32:20 3-4 3-3 1 0 1 2 4 1 2 12
S PAVLOVIC G 14:22 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 0
D GOODEN F 27:56 5-8 3-4 1 6 7 0 5 0 0 13
L JAMES F 41:09 12-25 2-3 0 6 6 8 3 2 6 29
Z ILGAUSKAS C 32:13 8-13 5-5 5 7 12 6 2 2 1 21
L HUGHES 33:38 4-15 0-0 0 0 0 1 4 0 2 9
A VAREJAO 25:39 3-5 0-0 2 3 5 0 5 1 1 6
DA JONES 13:01 1-4 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
E SNOW 9:17 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2
I NEWBLE 8:34 1-3 1-1 2 0 2 0 3 0 0 3
D BROWN 1:51 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 38-81 14-16 11 24 35 21 29 6 13 97
(.469) (.875) TEAM REBS: 3 TOTAL TO: 14 (0 PTS)

NEW JERSEY

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

J KIDD G 36:38 2-7 2-2 2 6 8 11 0 5 3 8
V CARTER G 41:51 13-22 4-4 3 4 7 6 3 1 2 32
M ALLEN F 5:54 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
R JEFFERSON F 37:48 7-16 10-12 1 1 2 4 1 0 1 24
J COLLINS C 4:45 0-0 0-2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0
J BOONE 26:46 6-11 3-8 5 3 8 0 0 1 2 15
B NACHBAR 23:46 5-10 2-2 0 3 3 0 4 1 0 13
S WILLIAMS 22:07 4-6 1-1 0 4 4 1 2 0 0 9
A WRIGHT 20:39 1-3 0-0 1 5 6 2 1 0 0 2
D ARMSTRONG 11:23 0-1 0-0 0 2 2 3 0 0 1 0
J MAGLOIRE 8:23 1-1 0-0 2 2 4 0 1 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 39-80 22-31 14 31 45 27 15 8 11 105
(.488) (.710) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 11 (0 PTS)

CLEVELAND 25 32 21 19 - 97
NEW JERSEY 21 29 30 25 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: CLEVELAND - Z ILGAUSKAS. NEW JERSEY - B NACHBAR 2,
S WILLIAMS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: CLEVELAND 7-23 (.304), D GIBSON 3-4, S PAVLOVIC 0-
1, L JAMES 3-9, L HUGHES 1-4, DA JONES 0-3, I NEWBLE 0-1, D BROWN 0-
1. NEW JERSEY 5-18 (.278), J KIDD 2-5, V CARTER 2-2, R JEFFERSON 0-
3, B NACHBAR 1-5, A WRIGHT 0-2, D ARMSTRONG 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW JERSEY - J COLLINS, J MAGLOIRE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BENNY ADAMS, ELY ROE, JOE DEROSA.
A - 15,242. T - 2:21.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (97)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Gibson 32:20 3-4 3-3 1-1 2 4 12
S Pavlovic 14:22 0-2 0-0 0-1 0 3 0
D Gooden 27:56 5-8 3-4 1-7 0 5 13
L James 41:09 12-25 2-3 0-6 8 3 29
Z Ilgauskas 32:13 8-13 5-5 5-12 6 2 21
L Hughes 33:38 4-15 0-0 0-0 1 4 9
A Varejao 25:39 3-5 0-0 2-5 0 5 6
Da Jones 13:01 1-4 0-0 0-0 2 0 2
E Snow 9:17 1-1 0-0 0-1 2 0 2
I Newble 8:34 1-3 1-1 2-2 0 3 3
D Brown 1:51 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-81 14-16 11-35 21 29 97
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.469, FT-.875. 3-Point Goals:
7-23, .304 (D Gibson 3-4, S Pavlovic 0-1, L
James 3-9, L Hughes 1-4, Da Jones 0-3, I
Newble 0-1, D Brown 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3.
Blocked Shots:1 (Z Ilgauskas). Turnovers:13
(L James 6, L Hughes 2, D Gibson 2, Z
Ilgauskas, A Varejao, S Pavlovic). Steals: 6
(Z Ilgauskas 2, L James 2, A Varejao, D
Gibson).


NEW JERSEY (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Kidd 36:38 2-7 2-2 2-8 11 0 8
V Carter 41:51 13-22 4-4 3-7 6 3 32
M Allen 5:54 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
R Jefferson 37:48 7-16 10-12 1-2 4 1 24
J Collins 4:45 0-0 0-2 0-1 0 2 0
J Boone 26:46 6-11 3-8 5-8 0 0 15
B Nachbar 23:46 5-10 2-2 0-3 0 4 13
S Williams 22:07 4-6 1-1 0-4 1 2 9
A Wright 20:39 1-3 0-0 1-6 2 1 2
D Armstrong 11:23 0-1 0-0 0-2 3 0 0
J Magloire 8:23 1-1 0-0 2-4 0 1 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-80 22-31 14-45 27 15 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.488, FT-.710. 3-Point Goals:
5-18, .278 (J Kidd 2-5, V Carter 2-2, R
Jefferson 0-3, B Nachbar 1-5, A Wright 0-2, D
Armstrong 0-1). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked
Shots:3 (B Nachbar 2, S Williams).
Turnovers:11 (J Kidd 3, V Carter 2, M Allen
2, J Boone 2, D Armstrong, R Jefferson).
Steals: 8 (J Kidd 5, V Carter, B Nachbar, J
Boone).

-------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND 25 32 21 19 - 97
NEW JERSEY 21 29 30 25 - 105
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Jersey - 2 (J Collins,
11:00 1st; J Magloire, 1:19 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 15,242. T: 2:21.
Officials: Benny Adams, Ely Roe, Joe Derosa.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (97) AT NEW JERSEY (105)

CLEVELAND

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

D GIBSON G 32:20 3-4 3-3 1 0 1 2 4 1 2 12
S PAVLOVIC G 14:22 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 0
D GOODEN F 27:56 5-8 3-4 1 6 7 0 5 0 0 13
L JAMES F 41:09 12-25 2-3 0 6 6 8 3 2 6 29
Z ILGAUSKAS C 32:13 8-13 5-5 5 7 12 6 2 2 1 21
L HUGHES 33:38 4-15 0-0 0 0 0 1 4 0 2 9
A VAREJAO 25:39 3-5 0-0 2 3 5 0 5 1 1 6
DA JONES 13:01 1-4 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
E SNOW 9:17 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2
I NEWBLE 8:34 1-3 1-1 2 0 2 0 3 0 0 3
D BROWN 1:51 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D BROWN DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 38-81 14-16 11 24 35 21 29 6 13 97
(.469) (.875) TEAM REBS: 3 TOTAL TO: 14 (23 PTS)

NEW JERSEY

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

J KIDD G 36:38 2-7 2-2 2 6 8 11 0 5 3 8
V CARTER G 41:51 13-22 4-4 3 4 7 6 3 1 2 32
M ALLEN F 5:54 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
R JEFFERSON F 37:48 7-16 10-12 1 1 2 4 1 0 1 24
J COLLINS C 4:45 0-0 0-2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0
J BOONE 26:46 6-11 3-8 5 3 8 0 0 1 2 15
B NACHBAR 23:46 5-10 2-2 0 3 3 0 4 1 0 13
S WILLIAMS 22:07 4-6 1-1 0 4 4 1 2 0 0 9
A WRIGHT 20:39 1-3 0-0 1 5 6 2 1 0 0 2
D ARMSTRONG 11:23 0-1 0-0 0 2 2 3 0 0 1 0
J MAGLOIRE 8:23 1-1 0-0 2 2 4 0 1 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 39-80 22-31 14 31 45 27 15 8 11 105
(.488) (.710) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 11 (7 PTS)

CLEVELAND 25 32 21 19 - 97
NEW JERSEY 21 29 30 25 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: CLEVELAND - Z ILGAUSKAS. NEW JERSEY - B NACHBAR 2,
S WILLIAMS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: CLEVELAND 7-23 (.304), D GIBSON 3-4, S PAVLOVIC 0-
1, L JAMES 3-9, L HUGHES 1-4, DA JONES 0-3, I NEWBLE 0-1, D BROWN 0-
1. NEW JERSEY 5-18 (.278), J KIDD 2-5, V CARTER 2-2, R JEFFERSON 0-
3, B NACHBAR 1-5, A WRIGHT 0-2, D ARMSTRONG 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW JERSEY - DEFENSIVE THREE, J MAGLOIRE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BENNY ADAMS, ELY ROE, JOE DEROSA.
A - 15,242. T - 2:21.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (97)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Gibson 32:20 3-4 3-3 1-1 2 4 12
S Pavlovic 14:22 0-2 0-0 0-1 0 3 0
D Gooden 27:56 5-8 3-4 1-7 0 5 13
L James 41:09 12-25 2-3 0-6 8 3 29
Z Ilgauskas 32:13 8-13 5-5 5-12 6 2 21
L Hughes 33:38 4-15 0-0 0-0 1 4 9
A Varejao 25:39 3-5 0-0 2-5 0 5 6
Da Jones 13:01 1-4 0-0 0-0 2 0 2
E Snow 9:17 1-1 0-0 0-1 2 0 2
I Newble 8:34 1-3 1-1 2-2 0 3 3
D Brown 1:51 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
D Brown DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-81 14-16 11-35 21 29 97
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.469, FT-.875. 3-Point Goals:
7-23, .304 (D Gibson 3-4, S Pavlovic 0-1, L
James 3-9, L Hughes 1-4, Da Jones 0-3, I
Newble 0-1, D Brown 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3.
Blocked Shots:1 (Z Ilgauskas). Turnovers:13
(L James 6, L Hughes 2, D Gibson 2, Z
Ilgauskas, A Varejao, S Pavlovic). Steals: 6
(Z Ilgauskas 2, L James 2, A Varejao, D
Gibson).


NEW JERSEY (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Kidd 36:38 2-7 2-2 2-8 11 0 8
V Carter 41:51 13-22 4-4 3-7 6 3 32
M Allen 5:54 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
R Jefferson 37:48 7-16 10-12 1-2 4 1 24
J Collins 4:45 0-0 0-2 0-1 0 2 0
J Boone 26:46 6-11 3-8 5-8 0 0 15
B Nachbar 23:46 5-10 2-2 0-3 0 4 13
S Williams 22:07 4-6 1-1 0-4 1 2 9
A Wright 20:39 1-3 0-0 1-6 2 1 2
D Armstrong 11:23 0-1 0-0 0-2 3 0 0
J Magloire 8:23 1-1 0-0 2-4 0 1 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-80 22-31 14-45 27 15 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.488, FT-.710. 3-Point Goals:
5-18, .278 (J Kidd 2-5, V Carter 2-2, R
Jefferson 0-3, B Nachbar 1-5, A Wright 0-2, D
Armstrong 0-1). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked
Shots:3 (B Nachbar 2, S Williams).
Turnovers:11 (J Kidd 3, V Carter 2, M Allen
2, J Boone 2, D Armstrong, R Jefferson).
Steals: 8 (J Kidd 5, V Carter, B Nachbar, J
Boone).

-------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND 25 32 21 19 - 97
NEW JERSEY 21 29 30 25 - 105
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Jersey - 2 (Defensive
Three, 11:00 1st; J Magloire, 1:19 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 15,242. T: 2:21.
Officials: Benny Adams, Ely Roe, Joe Derosa.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: CLEVELAND at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND AT NEW JERSEY
NOTE: RESENDING BOX TO UPDATE POINTS OFF TURNOVERS.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- LeBron James made astellar return to the starting lineup on Friday night. ButVince Carter and Richard Jefferson trumped that performance forthe New Jersey Nets.


Carter scored 32 points and Jefferson added 24 as the strugglingNets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 105-97 victoryover the Cleveland Cavaliers at Izod Center.


With rumors of a trade swirling around the All-Star point guard,Jason Kidd collected eight points, 11 assists and eightrebounds for New Jersey, which has defeated Cleveland fourstraight times - including twice this season.


Carter was happy all the Nets played unselfishly to right theship before taking on the New York Knicks at Madison SquareGarden on Saturday night.


"It's great for us to really go into a back-to-back on the roadwith a win," Carter said. "And a big win. Just the way weplayed tonight on both ends, (with) guys trusting each other,moving the ball, guys hitting shots, guys just lifting eachother up when we miss a shot or whatever the case may be. It'sgood for us. Hopefully, we can continue that (Saturday)."

The Cavaliers eliminated the Nets in last season's EasternConference semifinals en route to the first NBA Finalsappearance in franchise history.


It has been far from a playoff-caliber campaign so far for NewJersey, which now is just 5-9 at home and has endured thedeparture of general manager Ed Stefanski to the Philadelphia76ers.


Carter, who has been booed by the home crowd this season becauseof sluggish play, played well in this one, shooting 13-of-22and adding seven rebounds and six assists. Jefferson was7-of-16 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line.

"Vince Carter, obviously, was a big part of (the win)," Netscoach Lawrence Frank said. "Every time you have LeBron James onthe floor, they could make up points in a hurry. Overall, Ithink our bigs really played well."


New Jersey overcame the play of James, who played his secondgame - first start - since missing five contests with a sprainedleft index finger. The NBA's leading scoring entering Friday'splay, James had 29 points, eight assists and six rebounds inthis one.


The Nets pulled away in the last three minutes of the fourthquarter, finishing the game with an 11-2 run.


Down the stretch, the Cavaliers tried to intentionally foul Netsforward Josh Boone, who entered the game as a 21 percent<div class="pre">free-throw shooter, in order to get back in the game - a</div>strategy normally used against Shaquille O'Neal and deemed the"Hack-A-Shaq."


Boone nailed 2-of-4 free throws after getting fouled onconsecutive possessions to make it 99-95 with 2:24 left.Cleveland would get no closer.


Zydrunas Ilgauskas collected 21 points and 12 rebounds forCleveland, which was outscored by New Jersey, 55-40, in thesecond half.


"We have not defended all year," Cleveland coach Mike Brownsaid. "Yes, we have everybody back (from injuries). I don'tknow if it's we thought we could show up and get a win. Westarted off so well. The bottom line is that we're notdefending."