Location:
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Oh
Probable Starters:
Cleveland:
- Collin Sexton
- Brandon Knight
- David Nwaba
- Larry Nance Jr
- Marquese Chriss
Brooklyn:
- D’Angelo Russell
- Joe Harris
- Jarrett Allen
- Treveon Graham
- Rodions Kurucs
Cleveland- The Brooklyn Nets are very familiar with the type of season the Cleveland Cavaliers are having. This season is different for the Nets, currently sitting firmly in the East playoff picture Brooklyn has turned things around. Cleveland hopes to be in playoff contention this time next season, but this season the Cavaliers are heading towards the NBA’s draft lottery.
The Cavs held on for their first wire to wire victory of the season on Monday when they beat the Knicks 107-104. Cleveland now has 12 wins on the season, third fewest in the league behind New York and Phoenix. The Cavaliers were fortunate enough to have Kevin Love out on the floor Monday, but Love will sit out tonight against Brooklyn.
Love’s presence on the floor was a big boost for the Cavs, only playing 16 minutes he scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The Cavs have missed a go-to guy all season long, so Wednesday night will be much of the same. As much as Cleveland will miss Love, Larry Nance Jr has turned into a player the Cavaliers can count on, securing six straight double-doubles.
Nance Jr has been one of the Cavs best play-makers all season and has recently begun stretching his game beyond the three-point line. Over the last six games, Nance JR has shot .500 percent from three. He will have his hands full against the Nets Jarrett Allen, who is a nightly double-double threat inside for Brooklyn.
The biggest reason for the Nets success this season has been the play of All-Star D’Angelo Russell, who is having the best season of his career. This season Russell is averaging 20 points per game and (6.6) assists, who had to step up after Caris LeVert was sidelined with a foot injury. After a 42 game absence, LeVert returned to the lineup last Friday night and is slowly returning to his form.
The Cavaliers did a good job retooling the roster at the trade deadline, and have some nice young pieces to develop the remainder of the season. One of those pieces to watch is Marquese Chriss, who posted a season-high 14 points against the Knicks. Since being traded to the Cavs, Chriss has played 23 minutes a game averaging 11 points, on 52 percent shooting.
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