Jefferson Beats Buzzer as Nets Squeak Past Cavaliers
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.- Richard Jefferson capped the highest scoring night of his career by sinking an alley-oop layup off an inbounds pass with 0.8 seconds left, giving the Nets a 92-90 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers last night.
Jefferson scored 42 points, the final two coming when he caught Jabari Smith’s lob pass, and dropped the ball through.
Jefferson shot 12-for-20 from the field and 16-for-17 from the line for the Nets, who also got a career-high 22 points from Rodney Buford. Vince Carter, acquired last week from Toronto, was sidelined by a sore Achilles tendon.
James had 23 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, Jeff McInnis added 17 points and Ira Newble and Drew Gooden scored 14 apiece for the Cavaliers.
After James was called for a traveling violation, Jefferson matched his career high of 39 by converting a three-point play with 1:53 left for an 89-87 lead.
James was whistled for another traveling violation with 1:28 remaining and picked up a technical foul eight seconds later for arguing. Jefferson hit the free throw to reach 40 points.
James had a dunk and then made one of two free throws to tie it at 90 with 43.6 seconds left. A missed jumper by Buford led to a jump ball with 17.5 seconds left, and the Cavs controlled it. James missed a 10-foot runner, and the Nets rebounded and called timeout with 1.5 seconds remaining to set up the final inbounds play.
New Jersey held Cleveland to 10 points and had an 18-0 run in the second quarter, and Buford ended the half with a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 49-38 lead.
Nets forward Brian Scalabrine strained his left hamstring in the second quarter and didn’t return