Darius Garland strengthened his All-Superstar case with 22 points and 12 assists, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-107 eradicate Monday over the Brooklyn Nets, who began a stretch with out injured megastar Kevin Durant.
Isaac Okoro added 15 points and Jarrett Allen had 14 and 10 rebounds for the Cavs, who won their fifth straight.
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Kyrie Irving scored 27 points in his fourth game of the season and James Harden added 22 for Brooklyn, which used to be taking half in its first game since Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, sprained his left knee. He is anticipated to be out several weeks.
The Nets uncared for 5 straight pictures down the stretch however had been tranquil inner 110-107 when a costly turnover by Harden ended in a breakaway dunk for Okoro.
Harden tried a pass serve to Irving, who slipped end to mid-court docket and laid helplessly on the ground as Okoro streaked by and scored.
Irving uncared for a 3-pointer that went midway down and came out sooner than Cleveland’s Kevin Worship made three free throws to end out one amongst the Cavs’ greatest wins this season.
Durant, averaging 29.3 points per game, sprained his left medial collateral ligament (MCL) on Saturday in a eradicate over Unusual Orleans. The Nets manufacture now no longer possess a definitive timeframe for his return, however it definitely’s safe to carry they’re going to be with out one amongst the game’s most fascinating avid gamers for several weeks.
Sooner than the game, Brooklyn coach Steve Nash acknowledged Durant shall be re-evaluated in “a few weeks,” at which point the crew can possess a greater sense of when he’ll be serve.
In the period in-between, the Nets, who had been hoping to at closing possess a prolonged stretch with Durant, Harden and Irving on the ground together, are as soon as more being compelled to manage, alter and determine suggestions to eradicate.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Isaac Okoro dunks against the Brooklyn Nets within the most fundamental half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Cleveland.
(AP Describe/Tony Dejak)
“Or now no longer it’s a possibility for our crew to develop,” Nash acknowledged. “We now must come by alternate solutions.”
The Nets received one more distress within the third quarter when Harden grabbed his left leg and hobbled off.
He stayed in for one more minute sooner than being modified by Irving, who then scored seven straight points, losing a 3-pointer with 11.7 seconds left to assign Brooklyn up 88-87 heading into the fourth.
Garland, who used to be named the Jap Convention’s participant of the week all the plot through the game, used to be all the plot through the game’s splashiest play within the most fundamental half.
After making an overhead eradicate on a prolonged outlet pass from Worship indulge in a football vast receiver, Garland flipped the ball serve to a trailing Okoro for a thundering dunk.
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Nets: Or now no longer it’s some distance rarely easy to search out a particular with Durant’s self-discipline, however one plus is that Brooklyn performs nine of its next 11 on the motorway and can possess Irving, who can’t play at home because he’s now no longer vaccinated against COVID-19 as mandated in Unusual York’s public venues. … F/C Reduce Claxton (hamstring) uncared for his fourth straight game. … A two-time league MVP as a level guard, Nash has been impressed with Garland’s pattern. “He form of has the total tools you may possess, coupled with velocity and quickness.”
Cavaliers: With the All-Superstar Sport in Cleveland next month, the Cavs are pushing now no longer easy for Garland to invent the crew along with Allen, who has been one amongst the East’s most dominant immense men. “They each deserve it,” acknowledged coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who hasn’t started calling colleagues to push for his or her votes. … G Lamar Stevens (sore knee) sat out. … G Rajon Rondo (hamstring) uncared for his fourth game in a row. … Chairman Dan Gilbert attended his 2d game this season.
UP NEXT
Nets: Focus on over with Washington on Wednesday. They beat the Wizards 104-90 on Oct. 25.
Cavaliers: Play at Jap Convention-leading Chicago on Wednesday.
