Nets  89    Cavaliers  99

Recap: Cleveland vs. New Jersey

Sports Network | December 15, 2009

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - LeBron James scored 23 points to go along with seven assists and six rebounds, as Cleveland coasted past New Jersey, 99-89, at Quicken Loans Arena.

Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added some inside muscle with 16 points apiece while Mo Williams donated 13 points with eight rebounds and six assists. Cleveland has won eight straight as the hosts and three in a row overall.

"Every game is its own. You can't go into a game saying this team only has two wins. That is when you get bit. You go into a game and you just try to play well and you want to win," said James of facing the lowly Nets.

Brook Lopez notched a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Devin Harris contributed 22 points. Rafer Alston chipped in with 20 points off the bench for the Nets, who have lost four straight to continue a season-long swoon.

"We were playing great team ball and we were playing very well in our zone. We didn't close out, but we're getting there," said Lopez.

O'Neal scored five of Cleveland's first seven points, an early sign of the Cavs' eagerness to feed the post. Back-to-back jumpers by Anthony Parker and Williams made the score 13-4 in the early going, and Cleveland led 30-22 after the first stanza.

New Jersey hung around, trailing just 52-45 after 24 minutes of game action, but the edge quickly grew back out to double digits at 61-51 thanks to a trey by Parker and a Williams' layup in transition. The Nets made a push behind Lopez, who sank two free throws to draw the visitors within 63-61 and cap a 10-2 burst.

Cleveland quickly steadied the ship and Ilgauskas' putback pushed the advantage out to 72-63 after three periods.

New Jersey got no closer than seven until the final minute when the outcome was already decided. There was some action in the fourth as New Jersey guard Harris was ejected for a flagrant foul with 3:48 left in the fourth, as he hit Jamario Moon hard around the neck and head.

"Obviously, I need to watch it on tape, but I think it was the right call. I think he's (Devin) a good guy, and he tried to go for the block, but he got him (Jamario) on his neck, and when that happens, you have to make that call. I think it was the right call," Cavs head coach Mike Brown said.

Cleveland shot 58.2 percent from the floor, while New Jersey made just 39 percent of its shots and 5-of-18 from beyond the arc...The Nets stayed close thanks to 15 offensive rebounds and just 10 turnovers...Cleveland dominated the paint with 58 points in the painted area to just 30 for the Nets...The Cavs have taken five straight in this series.