Russell Scores 36 As Nets Outlast Cavaliers In Triple Overtime
CLEVELAND (AP) — D'Angelo Russell scored 14 of his 36 points in the third overtime and the Brooklyn Nets outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 148-139 on Wednesday night.
DeMarre Carroll's desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer of the second overtime tied the game, and Nets carried the momentum into the third extra session.
Russell, who is headed to play in his first All-Star game, had two points in the first half and scored Brooklyn's first 11 points in third overtime, including two 3-pointers.
Joe Harris scored 25 points and Carroll had 18 as the Nets improved to 30-29 — above .500 at the All-Star break for the first time since 2012-13.
Jordan Clarkson scored a career-high 42 points for Cleveland. Collin Sexton had 24 points and Marquese Chriss added 23.
The teams were playing their final game before the break, likely a good thing after going 63 minutes in a contest that saw 23 lead changes.
Cleveland seemed to have sealed the win when Clarkson made a go-ahead jumper in the final minute to put Cleveland ahead and added two free throws for a 128-125 lead in the second overtime.
Brooklyn called timeout and Carroll was double-teamed in the corner after taking the inbounds pass. He took a couple of dribbles to his left and put up the shot to tie the game. Carroll fell to the floor and was mobbed by his teammates, who poured off the bench.
Russell made two free throws with 16 seconds remaining to break a 116-all tie in the first overtime, but Sexton drove the lane and scored to tie the game with 2.8 seconds left.
Cavaliers forward Kevin Love sat out to get additional rest following foot surgery. Brooklyn dressed nine players because of several injuries.
Chriss, Larry Nance Jr, David Nwaba and Ante Zizic fouled out for Cleveland, which played its first overtime game of the season.
The Cavaliers (12-46) were trying to win consecutive games for the third time this season.
TIP-INS
Nets: G Spencer Dinwiddle (torn ligaments in right thumb) F Treveon Graham (personal reasons), F Rodions Kurucs (sprained left elbow), F Jared Dudley (strained left hamstring) and G Dzanan Musa (G-League assignment) are out.
Cavaliers: F Cedi Osman and C Ante Zizic returned to the starting lineup. Osman (sprained right ankle) missed four games and Zizic (sore lower back) didn't play Monday. ... F Tristan Thompson (sore left foot) is expected to return sometime after the break. He has missed the last 13 games.
LOOKING AHEAD
Love plans to increase his playing time following the All-Star break. The Cavaliers resume play against Phoenix on Feb. 21.
"I don't know minutes-wise what it's going to be like, but a good progression after that because I will be fully prepared to go," Love said.
"He's in a really good place right now both physically and mentally," Cavaliers coach Larry Drew said.
UP NEXT
Nets: Host Portland on Thursday, Feb. 21.
Cavaliers: Host Phoenix on Thursday, Feb. 21.
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