By james art 
The nets have had # 1 protection in the NBA in their last 10 games entering the All-Star break and did not jump a rhythm at this end of the court on Thursday against Cleveland Cavaliers. But the insult remained a struggle throughout their loss of 110-97 against # 1 seed at the Eastern Conference at Barclays Center.
The return of Kam Thomas cannot come soon enough. Brooklyn desperately needs his creation of shots.
“Personal and given that Kam is out, I feel like some of the offensive struggles will be expected,” Trendon Watford told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “To have the best protection in the league and then have one of the most crimes in the league, I guess this is giving and taking.”
Both teams fired below 35% in the first quarter, but the cavaliers made two more 3 more than Brooklyn and had five points on the edge of the free throw line. Visitors led 24-19 leads, entering the second quarter.
The early Nets deficit could have been a worse if it weren’t for Kon Johnson’s parting start. He led all the goal scorers with eight points in the first quarter when shooting 4 for 7. His teammates fired a combined 5-20 in the elementary neighborhood.
However, Kam Johnson and Nick Claxton found their rhythm in the second quarter, and Watford provided such an offensive impetus to the bench-all, without sacrificing its intensity of defense.
The networks, which gave up eight points in the second quarter, fired 11 for 22 in the period (50%), while limiting Cleveland to 33.3% firing. They went 20-to-50 from the pitch as a whole in the first half (40%) and made 12 rpm, but entered the dressing room, leading 50-48 because of the strong protection and a 15-3 edge in points of the second chance.
Cleveland was limited to shooting 16 for 46 in the first half (34.8%) and made 11 turns. Both teams missed combined 31 paths in the first 24 minutes.
Brooklyn fought for defense in the third quarter, allowing 14 points from Donovan Mitchell with a 56% effort to shoot Cavaliers. Both Johnson went in combination 6-9 during the period, but the networks did not get much insult outside them.
Tied to 69 with 4:26, remained in the third quarter, Cleveland continued with 14-8 to take a lead by 83-77 in the final frame. The nets were five points with 8:39 left in the third quarter, but after D’Angelo Russell was limping because of the right -end of the ankle, they gave up 11 points unanswered.
Russell did not go back to the game. The momentum then turned in favor of Cavaliers for good as they surpassed Nets 27-20 in the fourth quarter to win their 45th victory for the season.
“We do not know if he will come out or not, so once this happens, we will understand him,” said chief coach Jordi Fernandez when he asked him about the Nets Point Guard rotation if Russell was forced to miss games. “We have never had any problems with the next person’s mentality, and if so, I trust Killian and Trendon to lead the team and help the team. The same as tyrese [Martin]S “
Entering the night, the networks won six of seven matches, dating from January 29th. They saw that their victorious series of three games clicked Thursday in a game, where only 40% of the pitch fired and made 16 rpm. Cleveland was not much better at 42.6% for the game, but it had an advantage of 25-15 in fast break points and the 19-11 edge of the free throw line.
“I think we had a lot of effort today,” Kam Johnson said. “We just have to be able to perform at a high level for 48 [minutes]S “
Kam and Kon Johnson scored 34 points combined for 14 for 30. Watford added 13 points, four rebounds and three assists outside the bench, marking his fourth straight game reaching double figures. Nick Claxton ended with three blocked shots, extending his best series of games with multiple blocked shots to six.
Mitchell led Cavaliers with 26 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Darius Garland added 18 points. Killian Hayes, who signed a 10-day contract with Nets on Thursday, brought five points and three assists off the bench and was minus-7 in just over 21 minutes.
Brooklyn will be back on Saturday against Philadelphia 76ers in Wells Fargo Center.
Originally Published: