Game No. 16 Preview: Brooklyn Nets (3-12) at Cleveland Cavaliers (12-4)

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When: November 28, 2015; 7:30 PM EST

Where: Quicken Loans Arena; Cleveland, OH

TV: YES Network

Radio: WFAN 660 AM

For the entire first half and some of the third quarter on Wednesday night against Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Brooklyn Nets were able to hang right with one of the NBA’s best teams and maybe its best duo. But, in front of their loud and passionate home crowd, the Thunder were able to break away in the third quarter to cruise to a 110-99 victory over the Nets

Three days later, with a hearty Thanksgiving meal in between, the Nets are back in action against another top-five player in the league: LeBron James. Brooklyn heads to Cleveland to take on his Cavaliers, who have yet to lose (8-0) at home this season and have won four of their last five games.

Obviously, the Cavaliers — even without Kyrie Irving — are a brutal matchup for Brooklyn, as it’s hard for Thaddeus Young to hang with Kevin Love and damn near impossible for Joe Johnson to stick with LeBron. Lionel Hollins could switch up his defensive alignments contrary to usual defensive positioning, but Thad on LeBron and/or Joe on Love are both troubling assignments for the Nets. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is probably too small to take LeBron but his defensive skills could make the Brooklyn defensive gameplan interesting.

Where the Nets do have a possible advantage is at center, as Brook Lopez will presumably get to match up with Timofey Mozgov, who doesn’t have the ability to guard Brook’s 18-footers and isn’t as much an offensive threat on the other end. Love might spend some of the night defending Brook.

Probable lineups

BKN- Jarrett Jack (PG), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)

CLE- Mo Williams (PG), J.R. Smith (SG), LeBron James (SF), Kevin Love (PF), Timofey Mozgov (C)

Final thoughts

In the second-straight game, the Nets have an incredibly difficult road contest against one of the league’s best teams with some of the league’s best players. Brooklyn will need to make open threes — not easy for them — and play immaculate defense while also getting a bunch of breaks in order to steal a win in Cleveland tonight.

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