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Cold-shooting Cavaliers, Nets face off in Game Two

May 8, 2007 - 1:29 PM New Jersey at Cleveland 8:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference semifinals Cavaliers lead, 1-0

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers aim to stay unbeaten in the postseasonvwhen they host the New Jersey Nets in Game Two of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Tuesday.

Drew Gooden had 14 points and 14 rebounds, helping the cold-shooting Cavaliers cash in on second chances and hold on for an 81-77 victory over the Nets in their series opener on Sunday.

LeBron James had 21 points, 11 boards and seven assists for second-seeded Cleveland, which won its fifth straight postseason contest despite shooting just 40 percent (35-of-87) from the field. Battling a cold, James made just 8-of-21 shots.

"It's the playoffs, you have to battle through it," James said. "No matter what it took, I was going to be out on the court helping my teammates get a win."

The Cavaliers were playing for the first time in six days and seemed a bit rusty against the veteran Nets, who have made it to the conference semifinals for the fifth time in six years.

But New Jersey also struggled offensively. The main culprit was superstar swingman Vince Carter, who made just 7-of-23 shots, including 1-of-8 in the fourth quarter, when New Jersey was held to 18 points.

"I was disappointed in myself," Carter said. "There were some point-blank shots I should have made and I can make in traffic but I didn't put it in the basket. If my team's going to trust me and put the ball in my hands, you have to make them."

The series will shift to New Jersey for Game Three on Saturday.