When: January 20, 2016; 7:30 PM EST
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN 660 AM
In a rematch of their Christmas Day battle in Oakland, which was won by Golden State, the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers faced off at Quicken Loans Arena on Monday night. It was supposed to be a close game between the best teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences, but it quickly turned into a blowout win for the Warriors, who crushed LeBron James’ Cavaliers 132-98, and it wasn’t even that close.
Now, on Wednesday, those undoubtedly angry Cavaliers — much to the Nets’ dismay — will be in Brooklyn looking to avenge their embarrassing loss against a Nets team that has lost three games in a row (and eight of their last nine games). Brooklyn has won just two games in 2016 and has lost by 12 or more points in each of its last five defeats. But, it’s not like Tony Brown’s team hasn’t shown competitiveness lately, as it held late leads against both the Trail Blazers and Raptors in the past five days but fell apart late.
The main goal for the Nets tonight will be to withstand Cleveland’s initial push and to at least stay within 10 or so points in the first half. After the Cavaliers got demolished by the Warriors, a team they traded barbs in the media with before the game, they’ll surely be upset and ready to get back on the winning track against the lowly Nets. David Blatt’s squad has major advantages over the Nets at both point guard and small forward with Kyrie and LeBron which will surely be exploited at Barclays this evening.
Probable lineups
CLE- Kyrie Irving (PG), J.R. Smith (SG), LeBron James (SF), Kevin Love (PF), Timofey Mozgov (C)
BKN- Donald Sloan (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Final thoughts
For an injured, distraught and generally struggling team like the Nets, it’s never good to take on a top team in the league, but it’s even worse to play said top team after a demoralizing loss. Brooklyn is going to need the Cavaliers to surprisingly rest some guys, Cleveland to have a old shooting night or the Nets to make a ton of threes. Therefore, an upset isn’t super-likely to happen.
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