Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ stunner of a 147-135 double overtime home win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
1. Well, well, well. Welcome back, Collin Sexton.
2. How does 42 points sound? If it sounds pretty good while matched up with old friend Kyrie Irving, then you’ll be pleased with Sexton. Because that’s how many he scored.
3. What a win for the Cavs overall. When you’re facing Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden all together, it takes a true team-wide effort. And a team effort it truly was. Remember, the Cavs hadn’t played since Friday’s win over the Knicks.
4. But yes, Sexton was the star. His 42 points were a career high. He totally took over in the second overtime. He wasn’t just the best player on the Cavs. He was the best player on the court.
5. Sexton had missed straight games with a bum ankle. He wanted to play in every one of them. The Cavs chose to be cautious. Good choice, huh?
6. Sexton to FOX Sports Ohio’s Angel Gray on the win: “Man, this win tonight shows that when we’re all healthy and we’re all fully back, we can do a whole lot.”
7. Things didn’t always look so bright. With less than 10 seconds left in regulation and the score tied at 113-all, Sexton dribbled off his knee. The Nets came up with the lose ball.
8. Then Irving charged into Sexton with 1.5 seconds remaining. Or so the officials said. Nets coach Steve Nash challenged the call. Nash won the challenge and the call was overturned.
9. So it went to a jump ball at center court. That ran out regulation. To overtime we went.
10. And just when it seemed as if the Nets had things under control in the first OT, Larry Nance Jr. buried a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left to tie it at 120-all.
11. But on the next possession, former Cavs forward Jeff Green hit a three of his own, putting the Nets back up at the 0:28 mark.
12. What did the Cavs do next? Well, the answer was to call a timeout.
13. Then Cedi Osman hit a layup, trimming the lead to 123-122. After that, they essentially had to turn it into a free-throw shooting contest.
14. The Nets didn’t miss.
15. But neither did Sexton, who rose to bury a three in Irving’s mug with 1.2 seconds left. Tie game. Again. What a night.
16. The Nets had one final shot, but Durant’s fadeaway from the baseline fell short. Double OT, here we come.
17. After that, it was Sexton time. Game … set … wow. Sexton has been very good for the Cavs most of last season and all of this one. But he was never better than this night.
18. He finished 16-of-29 shooting, including 5-of-11 on threes. He also compiled five rebounds and five assists.
19. And yes, that Nance three late in OT was just one example of this being a teamwide effort in the truest sense. Osman finished with 25, and 16 in the first half, as the Cavs held a 51-49 edge at the intermission. Interestingly, they almost scored 100 after halftime. Osman also had seven rebounds and seven assists in one of his better games.
20. Newcomers Taurean Prince (17 points) and Jarrett Allen (12 points, 11 rebounds) gave very underrated showings, in their debuts, coming against the team that just traded them. Allen was in the game in place of Andre Drummond (13 points) for the most critical moments. Time will tell how well that sits with Drummond.
21. Even shooting guard Damyean Dotson got into the act, scoring 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Rookie Isaac Okoro did a nice job defensively and finished with eight points.
22. Overall, coach J.B. Bickerstaff used just eight guys. And he got the most out of every one them. Typical of the way Bickerstaff coaches. His teams tend to give more than a lot of people might expect.
23. In the Nets’ defense, this was their first game with Irving, Harden and Durant. They were bound to be a little sloppy.
24. Durant finished with 38 points and 12 boards. Irving scored 37, and Harden went for a triple-double with 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Irving hadn’t played since Jan. 8 due to personal reasons. He was fined for violating the league’s health and safety protocols during that time.
25. The Cavs (7-7) were without starting guard Darius Garland for the eight straight game. On the bright side, he practiced the two days leading up the game, and could be available for the rematch Friday against these very Nets (9-7).
26. The Cavs gave a video tribute to Irving prior to tipoff. The reception from the small crowd was mixed — but most everyone cheered when Irving pointed to his ring finger to celebrate the 2016 championship season. Those were some good times, but these Cavs are clearly giving fans something fun, too.
BOX SCORE | Cavs 147, Nets 135, 2OT
