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Cavaliers eye ninth straight victory

Mar 22, 2009 - 4:03 AM By Dan Pieringer Stats Writer

Cleveland (56-13) at New Jersey (30-39), 6:00 p.m. EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) -- The emergence of Chris Douglas-Roberts has helped New Jersey overcome Devin Harris' absence and lift the Nets' previously fading playoff hopes.

Extending their recent success with a win over the surging Cleveland Cavaliers would be a much more significant confidence boost.

The NBA-best Cavaliers go for their ninth straight win Sunday when they open a home-and-home series in New Jersey against Douglas-Roberts and the Nets, looking to win three straight for the first time in six weeks.

The recent surge by Cleveland (56-13) has allowed it to pull four games ahead of Boston for the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers got 24 points from Mo Williams and 22 from LeBron James in a 102-96 win over Atlanta on Saturday.

But James was more impressed with the team's defense, which held the Hawks to 42.9 percent shooting. Cleveland has limited its last four opponents to 93.5 points per game after needing overtime to beat lowly Sacramento 126-123 on March 13.

"We're back at it," James said. "We know what our staple is and we know what our main goal is and that's on the defensive end. It's good to see that we've had that type of intensity. We have to continue that and it will help us go a long way in the playoffs."

If they can hold on to first place in the East, the Cavaliers will play the eighth-place finisher. That could be the Nets (30-39) if they continue their recent success without Harris.

Harris, New Jersey's leading scorer with 22.6 points per game and a candidate to win most improved player honors, is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury that's already forced him to miss three games.

Douglas-Roberts has helped the Nets win the last two. The rookie guard from Memphis had season highs of 14 points and seven assists in a win at New York on Wednesday night before recording another personal best with 18 points in a 96-88 home victory over Miami on Friday.

"He is just seizing the moment," said Nets star Vince Carter, who added 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists against the Heat. "Now he is locked in. ... All I said (to him) was: 'Here is your opportunity, take advantage and make the best of it.'"

Douglas-Roberts has averaged only 9.8 minutes in 31 games, but he's played 27 in each of the last two.

"If your moment comes and you are not ready, you don't have anything to say about why you aren't playing," he said. "Your minutes are very valuable and when you do get an opportunity to play you must produce, whether it's offensively or defensively."

Douglas-Roberts' contributions have helped New Jersey pull within 1 1/2 games of Chicago for the final playoff spot in the East. Before their back-to-back wins, the Nets had dropped 12 of 16 after a four-game winning streak from Jan. 31-Feb.7.

"It's easy to say we're a playoff team," Carter said. "It's another thing going out there and proving it. I just set the bar for the team and guys are catching on and following and believing it themselves."

James led four Cleveland players scoring in double figures with 31 as the Cavaliers won their first meeting with the Nets, 106-82 on Nov. 18 at the Izod Center.

Harris was the only New Jersey player to score more than 15 in that game. Carter was held to 12 points and 3-for-12 shooting from the field, and Douglas-Roberts didn't play.

These teams meet again on Wednesday in Cleveland.