The Cavs looked to avenge an embarrassing loss from a week ago, hosting a rematch with the Brooklyn Nets at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night. It was a good way to follow up an embarrassing loss from Tuesday night, when they blew a 20-point lead to Houston, as the Cavs dominated the Nets 107-87, never letting off the gas pedal.
It was an even game for the first seven minutes, before Kevin Love found LeBron James with a deep inbound pass, leading LeBron to the bucket for a nice layup to make it 15-14 in favor of Cleveland.
This sparked a 16-4 Cavaliers run, which was capped off by Channing Frye hitting back-to-back threes to make it 29-18 Cleveland.
The Cavs would lead 29-22 at the end of the first quarter, but as Cleveland has had a tendency to do in recent weeks, they let the Nets climb right back to make it a three-point game with 8:47 to play in the second quarter.
The two sides went back and forth, and former-Cavalier Donald Sloan made a beautiful reverse layup, drawing a foul under the hoop, giving the Nets a three-point play to make it 36-33.
The Cavs would respond with a 6-0 run to get it back to an eight-point lead, thanks to J.R. Smith’s second three-pointer of the night.
Brooklyn called timeout to try and stop the Cavs’ momentum, but Cleveland’s run continued, as the Wine and Gold extended it to a 12-0 run, thanks to a three from Love and a layup from LeBron, who made it 46-33 Cleveland with just over four minutes left in the half.
Two minutes later, Timofey Mozgov made it a 15-point game with a close range turnaround jumper.
LeBron intercepted a pass and went full steam ahead for a thunderous dunk to give the Cavs a 17-point lead.
.@KingJames gets an interception and proceeds to throw the hammer down for @cavs! #CavsNetshttps://t.co/ct9pUoJOWz https://t.co/xCKpYzAV0i
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) April 1, 2016
Mozgov came through again, making a reverse layup to increase the margin to 19.
The onslaught would continue with Love knocking down a three to make it 59-37.
Cleveland would end up leading 63-39 at halftime.
LeBron put up 14 points and eight assists in the first half, while Love led the way in scoring with 16 points.
The Cavs appeared to come out more motivated in the third quarter than their last game, when they blew a 20-point lead against the Houston Rockets, and instead of letting off the gas pedal, Cleveland increased their lead to 28 midway through the third.
Cleveland cruised through the rest of the third quarter, leading 89-63 heading into the fourth.
The fourth quarter was what we like to call “garbage time,” which is a good thing considering that’s how it should be when the Cavs play the Nets.
The Cavs looked like the Cavs. The Nets looked like the Nets.
If you’re a fan of garbage time highlights, here’s Mo Williams hitting a three from downtown to make it 100-68. The Cavalier faithful love Mo Gotti, who gets a huge roar of applause anytime he takes the court.
The Cavs cruised through the fourth quarter to win 107-87.
LeBron finished with 24 points and 11 assists, leading the game in both categories.
Love posted a double-double with 19 points and ten rebounds.
Thaddeus Young led Brooklyn with 18 points, but it was to little avail.
The Cavs hit the road for Atlanta and will take on the Hawks Friday night at 8 PM.
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