Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Takeaways and Player Grades

By Tj Porreca

Jan 6, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball over Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball over Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 6, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball over Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball over Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

The Brooklyn Nets, in the midst of a four-game losing streak, faced the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. Cleveland saw both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love return in time to take on the Nets.

The Brooklyn Nets were faced with the herculean task of taking on LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and company on Friday night.

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The Nets played relatively well in the first quarter, as Bojan Bogdanovic led Brooklyn with seven first quarter points. Justin Hamilton added five, as the Nets’ offense flowed well for the most part. Brook Lopez had a quiet opening quarter, but the ball moved well. The Nets, unsurprisingly, had to contend with LeBron James, who put up 11 first quarter points, as Cleveland led 24-20 at the end of the first quarter.

The Nets kept pace with the Cavaliers in the second quarter. Overall, the pace remained slow in the second quarter, as the Nets and Cavs were tied at 30 with seven minutes remaining. Four in-game minutes later, with under three minutes left in the half, the Cavs led just 39-36. An 8-0 run by LeBron James toward the end of the half gave the Cavaliers a nine-point lead, as things started to unravel for the Nets. To close out the half, Cleveland expanded on James’ personal run, to push it to a 13-3 extended run. The Nets trailed 50-39 at halftime.

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Brooklyn struggled from three-point range in the first half, as the Nets shot just 20 percent from beyond the arc. Bogdanovic led the Nets with 14 first-half points, while Lopez scored just four. The Nets’ point total, 39, was their lowest output in a first half this season.

The Cavaliers were able to pull away in the third quarter. Cleveland pushed their lead up to 20, 75-55 with 4:30 left in the third quarter, as their big three of James, Irving and Love all had success against the Nets’ defense. The Nets allowed a run at the end of the second quarter, but in comparison, the third quarter was a meltdown. The Nets trailed 86-68, as Cleveland led big heading to the fourth quarter.

The Nets showed fight in the fourth quarter, and nearly made a miraculous comeback. Brooklyn went on a 15-0 run to begin the quarter, and it appeared the Nets may stun the Cavs. But Kyrie Irving prevented the Nets’ comeback, as he went on a 10-0 individual run to put Cleveland over the top.

Brooklyn’s comeback attempt fell just short, as the Nets lost 116-108. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Nets with 23, while LeBron James led all scorers with 36.