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Nets edge Cavs in OT

Mar 24, 2011 - 4:08 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Kris Humphries scored 18 points and was a dominant factor on the boards, collecting a career-high 23 rebounds, in New Jersey's 98-94 overtime win over Cleveland in a battle of struggling teams.

Sasha Vujacic and Brook Lopez each added 18 points for the Nets, who snapped a four-game losing streak while also snapping a five-game road losing skid. Travis Outlaw chipped in 17 points in the win and Jordan Farmar added 10 points and 10 assists.

"The guys battled," Nets head coach Avery Johnson said. "We didn't have anything going offensively but they battled."

Ramon Session scored a game-high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have lost four straight and eight of their last nine. J.J. Hickson and Alonzo Gee had 17 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort. Hickson also grabbed 17 boards.

In a close fourth quarter, the two teams were knotted at 80 just under two minutes left following Outlaw's two free throws.

The score stayed that way until Anthony Parker buried a pullup jumper just beyond the free throw line to go up 82-80 with 12.1 showing on the clock. During the ensuing possession, Lopez backed down several defenders to get a short hook shot off. It rattled off the rim, but he was able to tip it right back in with 4.3 ticks left.

Parker looked to play hero again, but his last-second shot fell well wide of the basket and regulation ended with the two teams bottle-necked at 82.

In overtime, both clubs made their first shot as Vujacic drained a trey to go up by one. Then with 2 1/2 minutes left Outlaw's jumper put the Nets up 88-84.

Just under minute left in the extra period, Humphries hit two free throws to give the Nets a four-point lead and Sessions responded with a driving layup to cut it back to two points, 92-90 with 51.8 seconds left. Nevertheless, the Nets held on for the win by making six free throws to keep the distance.

"We had a chance to steal the game in overtime and it just didn't happen for us," Hickson said.

Neither teams came out particularly warm with both shooting below 38 percent from the field in the opening quarter. Christian Eyenga's breakaway dunk off a Daniel Gibson steal put the Cavs up 22-17 heading into the second.

The two clubs continued their poor shooting in the second quarter, especially the Nets, who made just 26.1 percent of their shots. Ryan Hollins' ally-oop dunk with 33.1 seconds left gave the Cavs a 42-39 lead at the break.

Lopez's jam with 4:01 left to play in the third put the Nets in front, 57-56, and on their next trip down the court Anthony Morrow converted a three- pointer. However, Cleveland scored six of the final eight points of the quarter to send the game into the fourth knotted at 62.

Game Notes

Nets guard Sundiata Gaines left in the second quarter with a hip injury and did not return. The Nets were already without guard Deron Williams because of a wrist injury...Cleveland shot 37.4 percent from the field for the game, while New Jersey made just 34 percent of its shots...Sessions tied a season- high with eight rebounds...Morrow added 10 points in the win.