Nets 98 - 94 Cavaliers
Final - OT
  for this game

Nets and Cavs square off in Cleveland

Mar 23, 2011 - 3:11 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of teams aiming to end losing streaks collide tonight in the Forest City, where the New Jersey Nets will visit the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Nets will begin a three-game road trip tonight against the Cavs, Magic and Hawks, and are 4-29 away from the Garden State this season. They have lost five straight as the visitor and suffered their fourth consecutive loss overall with Monday's 102-98 defeat at the hands of Indiana at home.

Brook Lopez netted 20 points and Sundiata Gaines contributed 18 in a reserve role for New Jersey, which is mired in a four-game skid following a five-game winning streak.

"Every game, we're competing," Gaines said. "I think that's the first step. Hopefully we'll be able to close out games better than we have lately."

Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic scored 14 points apiece in defeat. Nets guard Deron Williams missed his second straight game with a balky right wrist and is listed as doubtful tonight.

Cleveland got its five-game homestand off to a poor start and dropped a 97-86 decision to the Orlando Magic Monday night at the Q.

J.J. Hickson had 18 points and Daniel Gibson posted 16 points and six assists for the Cavaliers, who have lost three in a row and seven of eight contests. Christian Eyenga was the only other scorer in double figures with 12 points.

"I just want my guys to go out there and play hard for 48 minutes," said Cavs coach Byron Scott. "We didn't do that in the first quarter and I told the guys during a timeout that we looked like we were playing in quicksand."

Scott's team is winless in its last six home games and will also welcome the Pistons, Hawks and Heat to town. Cleveland is only 8-26 as the host and could be without guard Baron Davis tonight because of back spasms. Davis is questionable for Wednesday and has missed two straight, five of six and nine of his last 13 games.

Hickson is averaging 16.1 points and 10.4 rebounds over his previous 18 games while Gibson is averaging 12.0 ppg in his past six games.

New Jersey has won two of three meetings with Cleveland this season, but the Cavaliers are still 11-5 in the past 16 encounters with the Nets. New Jersey has lost seven of its last nine contests at Cleveland.






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