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Wednesday, Apr. 19 7:30pm ET
Cleveland 111, New Jersey 108 | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) _ Lamond Murray hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 11.9 seconds to play and the Cleveland Cavaliers scored the final six points to beat New Jersey 111-108 Wednesday night in what was likely Don Casey's final game as the Nets' coach. Casey is expected to be fired next week after he meets with owner Lewis Katz. His 1 1/2 year run ended with a season-high 11-game losing streak, a slump that allowed the Nets (31-51) to edge Cleveland (32-50) for the seventh worst record in next month's draft lottery. Murray had 27 points, including six of the Cavs' final eight. Shawn Kemp added 23 points and 13 rebounds. Johnny Newman and Keith Van Horn scored 29 points apiece for New Jersey, which had only seven healthy players. Kendall Gill added 24 points, but threw up an airball with three seconds to go and the Nets behind 109-108. Elliott Perry hit two free throws with 19.6 seconds to play to give the Nets a 108-105 lead. Murray was fouled on a drive at the other end with 16.1 seconds to go. He made the first and missed the second free throw, but Van Horn lost the rebound out of bounds, giving the ball back to Cleveland. On the ensuing inbounds play, Danny Ferry found Murray on the left wing and he nailed his 3-pointer over Newman. After Gill's airball, Kemp made two free throws with 1.7 seconds to go. Lucious Harris last-gasp 3-pointer hit off the side of the rim, sending New Jersey to its 24th loss in 34 games decided by five points or less. Bob Sura added 13 points and Brevin Knight and Mark Bryant had 10 for the Cavaliers, who ended a two-game losing streak and won for only the third time in 10 games. The win also ended a four-game road losing streak and was only the team's 10th on the road this season. The meaningless game had a couple of ugly moments. Gheorghe Muresan of the Nets angered Kemp by swatting the ball into him late in the third quarter, and Kemp didn't hesitate to shove the 7-foot-7 giant. Both got technicals. Jamie Feick of the Nets and Ferry shoved each other with 3:30 left in the game and got technicals. Notes: Scott Burrell, Sherman Douglas and Evan Eschmeyer all dressed for the Nets even though they were injured and unable to play. Douglas and Eschmeyer were activated just so the team could dress the mandated eight players. ... Stephon Marbury, the Nets leader in scoring (22.2) and assists (8.4) missed the final eight games of the season with a knee injury. ... The teams split the season series 2-2.
| ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Cleveland Clubhouse New Jersey Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 112 New York 85
Cleveland 111
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