Wrap-Up – Coach David Blatt is just over a quarter of the way through his first NBA season, but he sure pushed the right button on Friday night – giving Mike Miller the start at shooting guard and watching the accomplished vet go 7-for-8 from beyond the arc, propelling Cleveland to the 95-91 win at The Q.
Coming off their worst defeat of the season on Wednesday, the Wine and Gold wanted to right the ship, and a lineup change did just the trick on Friday. Miller – who made his return to the lineup after being sidelined for seven games while undergoing the league’s concussion protocol following a collision in New York on December 4 – finished with 21 points in 33 minutes, canning seven of his eight three-point attempts.
LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 22 points on 7-for-18 shooting, leading both clubs with nine assists to go with four boards and a pair of steals. The only other Cavalier in double-figures was Kyrie Irving, who celebrated the drop of his new Nike shoe by netting 16 points, four boards, four assists and a steal.
Kevin Love led both squads with 14 rebounds and Tristan Thompson came off Cleveland’s bench to grab 10 boards to go with nine points.
The Nets were led by Joe Johnson’s 26-point effort and – already down starting center Brook Lopez – lost Deron Williams in the second quarter to a right calf strain. The Cavaliers beat Brooklyn on the boards, 44-37, on second-chance scoring, 17-4, and made 29 trips to the stripe to just a dozen attempts for the Nets.
Miller goes off from downtown.
View some of the best snapshots.
It's Miller Time at The Q.
Go inside the locker room.
Watch full final game highlights from Friday's victory.
Turning Point – Through the first quarter-and-a-half on Friday night, the Cavs looked to be in the same funk that doomed them two nights earlier. But Mike Miller’s three-pointer with 2:30 to play in the first half gave Cleveland a three-point lead and ignited a 9-0 run that put the Wine and Gold in the driver’s seat headed into intermission. Both teams took turns with the lead through the third quarter, but the Cavaliers took a three-point edge near the end of the period and never trailed in the fourth.
By the Numbers – 10 … times during Mike Miller’s 14-year career that he’s canned seven three-pointers in a game. The Cavs sharpshooter has hit eight treys three times and has gone for nine on two occasions.
Quotable – Mike Miller, on returning to action after seven games off …
” Obviously getting the opportunity to get out there with that starting group makes it a little easier for open shots. (I’m) just happy to help and be a part of it.”
Up Next – The Cavaliers play their first afternoon affair of the season on Sunday afternoon, and it won’t be easy as they welcome the team with the second-best record in the league – the Memphis Grizzlies – for a 4:30 matchup. On Tuesday night, the homestand wraps up against the Timberwolves before the Wine and Gold head to the sunshine state for a pair. On Christmas Day, the Cavaliers travel to Miami for a meeting with the Heat. The following night, they head north to Orlando for a Friday night matchup with the Magic.