Cam Thomas scores 29 points, Nets pull away to beat injury-riddled Cavaliers 120-101
CLEVELAND (AP) Cam Thomas scored 29 points in 31 minutes, Mikal Bridges had 25 points and the Brooklyn Nets pulled away to beat the injury-riddled Cleveland Cavaliers 120-101 on Sunday night.
Dennis Schroder added 17 points and eight assists, and Nic Claxton had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Brooklyn, which built a 26-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Nets only trailed for 1:41 in the game, all early in the third period.
“This game, I had to get out of my comfort zone, get the team fired up and lead the guys by example,” said Thomas, who also had seven rebounds and five assists. “Cleveland always tries to take away the mid-range a little bit, but with certain lineups, I can be a little more aggressive.”
Georges Niang scored 20 points and Jarrett Allen had 15 points and nine rebounds for Cleveland, which fell a half-game behind Milwaukee into third place in the Eastern Conference. Darius Garland had 14 points and five assists.
“We just never really got out of the mud,” Niang said. “We never really seemed to get it rolling tonight.”
Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell missed his sixth straight game because of soreness in his left knee, but resumed on-court work earlier in the day. The five-time All-Star is the fifth-leading scorer in the NBA at 28.0 points per game.
Cleveland also was without two additional starters in forwards Evan Mobley (left ankle sprain) and Max Strus (right knee strain), along with backup big man Dean Wade (personal reasons).
“Our guys competed and I’m proud of them, but at some point in time, you just run out of gas,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “The third quarter kind of broke our back.”
The Cavaliers took their first lead at 53-52 on Isaac Okoro’s layup to open the second half, but the Nets answered with a 44-27 run behind 11 points apiece from Thomas and Bridges. Thomas and Schroder each made 40-footers during the surge.
“Cam displayed it all tonight, it wasn’t just his scoring, he was contributing in other ways,” Brooklyn interim coach Kevin Ollie said. “We want him to be a masterpiece on offense and a masterpiece on defense. Just his toughness, his resiliency, it means the world for us.”
The Nets are 1-2 on a six-game trip that ends March 17 against San Antonio in Austin, Texas. Brooklyn only plays one home game between March 7-27 -- on March 19 against New Orleans -- and is 3 1/2 games out of the final play-in tournament spot.
“If we want to get in the play-in, we just have to do it,” Thomas said. “That’s all there is to it. I’m tired of all the talking about energy after games.”
Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV had four points after sitting out Saturday at Charlotte with an illness, but forward Cam Johnson missed his third consecutive game with a sprained right ankle. Ollie said Johnson is considered day-to-day.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Orlando on Wednesday night.
Cavaliers: Host Phoenix on Monday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Nic Claxton vs. Jarrett Allen (Darius Garland gains possession) | ||
| 11:39 | | Darius Garland turnover (bad pass) (Cam Thomas steals) | ||
| 11:34 |  | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point running jump shot (Cam Thomas assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:27 | | Darius Garland turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 11:10 | | Jarrett Allen blocks Dorian Finney-Smith's two point reverse layup | ||
| 11:09 | | Cavaliers defensive rebound | ||
| 10:53 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point driving dunk (Jarrett Allen assists) | 2-2 |
| 10:41 | | Mikal Bridges misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:39 | | Nic Claxton offensive rebound | ||
| 10:34 | | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point jump shot (Nic Claxton assists) | 5-2 |
| 10:16 | | Georges Niang misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 10:16 | | Nets defensive rebound | ||
| 10:15 | | Jarrett Allen personal foul (Loose ball) (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | ||
| 10:00 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop dunk (Cam Thomas assists) | 7-2 |
| 9:50 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point driving finger roll layup | 7-4 |
| 9:29 | | Dennis Schroder misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:27 | | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | ||
| 9:24 | | Dorian Finney-Smith blocks Isaac Okoro's two point running layup | ||
| 9:24 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 9:19 | | Darius Garland turnover (bad pass) (Nic Claxton steals) | ||
| 9:15 | | Mikal Bridges misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 9:14 | | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | +2 | Isaac Okoro makes two point running finger roll layup (Darius Garland assists) | 7-6 |
| 8:42 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point cutting dunk (Dorian Finney-Smith assists) | 9-6 |
| 8:42 | | Georges Niang personal foul (Loose ball) (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | ||
| 8:42 | | +1 | Nic Claxton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-6 |
| 8:42 | | Georges Niang technical foul (Double) | ||
| 8:42 | | Nic Claxton technical foul (Double) | ||
| 8:24 | | Cam Thomas personal foul (Isaac Okoro draws the foul) | ||
| 8:21 | | Dorian Finney-Smith personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 8:06 | | Darius Garland misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:02 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 7:45 | | Dennis Schroder turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 7:26 | | Georges Niang misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:23 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 7:21 | | Darius Garland shooting foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | ||
| 7:21 | | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-6 |
| 7:21 | | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-6 |
| 7:04 | | +3 | Darius Garland makes three point jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 12-9 |
| 6:51 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:49 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 6:41 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point bank hook shot | ||
| 6:41 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 6:41 | | Nic Claxton shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 6:41 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:41 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-10 |
| 6:41 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-11 |
| 6:26 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot (Day'Ron Sharpe assists) | 14-11 |
| 6:06 | | +3 | Darius Garland makes three point jump shot (Georges Niang assists) | 14-14 |
| 5:56 | | Isaac Okoro shooting foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 5:56 | | Cam Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 5:56 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 5:56 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-14 |
| 5:36 | | Darius Garland misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:32 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 5:27 | | Cam Thomas misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:25 | | Cam Thomas offensive rebound | ||
| 5:24 | | Sam Merrill blocks Cam Thomas's two point putback layup | ||
| 5:24 | | Cam Thomas offensive rebound | ||
| 5:24 | | Darius Garland shooting foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 5:24 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-14 |
| 5:24 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-14 |
| 5:07 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:04 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 4:58 | | Dennis Schroder turnover (bad pass) (Damian Jones steals) | ||
| 4:52 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point running jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 17-17 |
| 4:36 | | +3 | Dennis Schroder makes three point jump shot (Cam Thomas assists) | 20-17 |
| 4:20 | | Dennis Schroder technical foul (Defensive three second) | ||
| 4:20 | | +1 | Darius Garland makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 20-18 |
| 4:10 | | Isaac Okoro misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:07 | | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | ||
| 4:01 | | +2 | Lonnie Walker IV makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 22-18 |
| 3:55 | | Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Isaac Okoro draws the foul) | ||
| 3:55 | | +1 | Isaac Okoro makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-19 |
| 3:55 | | Isaac Okoro misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 3:51 | | Georges Niang offensive rebound | ||
| 3:44 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:40 | | Jalen Wilson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:34 | | Dennis Schroder turnover (bad pass) (Isaac Okoro steals) | ||
| 3:29 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point running dunk | ||
| 3:26 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 3:21 | | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point jump shot (Dennis Schroder assists) | 25-19 |
| 3:07 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point alley-oop dunk (Caris LeVert assists) | 25-21 |
| 3:00 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:48 | | Dennis Schroder misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 2:46 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 2:39 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Mobley assists) | 25-24 |
| 2:17 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:14 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Caris LeVert turnover (bad pass) (Mikal Bridges steals) | ||
| 2:01 | | Sam Merrill personal foul (Lonnie Walker IV draws the foul) | ||
| 2:01 | | +1 | Lonnie Walker IV makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-24 |
| 2:01 | | +1 | Lonnie Walker IV makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-24 |
| 1:41 | | Caris LeVert misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 1:38 | | Jalen Wilson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:28 | | Mikal Bridges turnover (bad pass) (Caris LeVert steals) | ||
| 1:12 | | Jarrett Allen turnover (bad pass) (Mikal Bridges steals) | ||
| 1:06 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 1:03 | | Dennis Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 0:57 | | Jarrett Allen personal foul (Dennis Smith Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 0:57 | | +1 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-24 |
| 0:57 | | +1 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-24 |
| 0:41 | | +2 | Craig Porter Jr. makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 29-26 |
| 0:28 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:26 | | Isaiah Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 0:19 | | Day'Ron Sharpe personal foul (Sam Merrill draws the foul) | ||
| 0:19 | | +1 | Sam Merrill makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-27 |
| 0:19 | | +1 | Sam Merrill makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-28 |
| 0:02 | | Cam Thomas misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:34 | | +3 | Jalen Wilson makes three point jump shot (Cam Thomas assists) | 32-28 |
| 11:13 | | Damian Jones misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:10 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 10:59 | | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point jump shot (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 35-28 |
| 10:43 | | +3 | Craig Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Sam Merrill assists) | 35-31 |
| 10:26 | | Cam Thomas misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:22 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 10:16 | | Caris LeVert turnover (lost ball) (Mikal Bridges steals) | ||
| 10:13 | | Jalen Wilson turnover (lost ball) (Sam Merrill steals) | ||
| 10:08 | | Sam Merrill misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:05 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 9:56 | | Sam Merrill personal foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 9:42 | | Damian Jones shooting foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 9:42 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-31 |
| 9:42 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-31 |
| 9:16 | | Craig Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:13 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 9:04 | | Dennis Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:01 | | Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | Caris LeVert misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:53 | | Nets defensive rebound | ||
| 8:37 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point cutting dunk (Dorian Finney-Smith assists) | 39-31 |
| 8:37 | | Sam Merrill shooting foul (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | ||
| 8:37 | | +1 | Nic Claxton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 40-31 |
| 8:20 | | Darius Garland misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:18 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 8:14 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 8:09 | | Isaiah Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 8:05 | | +3 | Isaac Okoro makes three point running jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 40-34 |
| 7:43 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point cutting dunk (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 42-34 |
| 7:24 | | Darius Garland offensive foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 7:24 | | Darius Garland turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:57 | | Nic Claxton misses two point jump shot | ||
| 6:55 | | Dennis Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 6:52 | | Dennis Smith Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Darius Garland steals) | ||
| 6:52 | | Dennis Smith Jr. personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 6:52 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:31 | | Caris LeVert turnover (lost ball) (Dennis Schroder steals) | ||
| 6:26 | | +2 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes two point running dunk (Dennis Schroder assists) | 44-34 |
| 6:16 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:11 | | Dennis Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:02 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point turnaround hook shot (Dennis Schroder assists) | 46-34 |
| 5:41 | | Nic Claxton shooting foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 5:41 | | Caris LeVert misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 5:41 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 5:41 | | +1 | Caris LeVert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-35 |
| 5:29 | | Darius Garland kicked ball violation | ||
| 5:12 | | Cam Thomas misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 5:12 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 5:12 | | Isaac Okoro personal foul (Loose ball) (Dorian Finney-Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 5:01 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot |