• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Nets meet Cavaliers with playoff hopes fading

Apr 9, 2008 - 2:33 PM New Jersey (32-45) at Cleveland (42-35) 7:00 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The New Jersey Nets have to be perfect for the rest of the season if they plan on making the postseason.

The Nets try to keep their playoff hopes alive on Wednesday when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.

New Jersey trails the Atlanta Hawks (36-41) by four games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Easter Conference. However, with only five games left, the Nets don't have any room for error.

The Nets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 99-90 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. Vince Carter scored 32 points and Richard Jefferson added 28 to lead New Jersey to just its third win in the last nine games.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers enter Wednesday's contest in fourth place in the East with a two-game lead over the Washington Wizards (40-37).

However, Cleveland has lost its last two games and five of the previous seven, including a 101-86 setback to the third place Orlando Magic (48-29) on Saturday.