CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) - The Brooklyn Nets' recent month-long stretch has been nothing short of smoldering.
The franchise won 125-117 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night to extend their winning streak to nine games, their longest such streak since the team returned to the borough.
Earning his first victory in Cleveland since leaving the Cavs in 2017, Nets guard Kyrie Irving nailed a game-best 7-of-11 performance from the 3-point line. Kevin Durant also totaled 32 points for Brooklyn (22-12), along with nine rebounds and five assists.
The Cavs (22-13) have now lost two home games in a row, after dropping a 118-107 Friday final to the Toronto Raptors. Darius Garland totaled 46 points - the second-highest single-game performance of his career to lead a Cleveland offense that had issues elsewhere in the lineup.
Donovan Mitchell (15 points, 5-16 FGs) and Evan Mobley (12 points, six rebounds) followed Garland on the box score. Cedi Osman (11 points) and Keivn Love (seven) added to the Cavs' point total, but other players - such as big man Jarrett Allen (10 points, 11 rebounds) strugged to find the bottom of the hoop.
"I believe we can play with these teams. I think we did enough to give me confidence in that," Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said following Monday's game. "I just think we waited too long to believe we could."
The Nets led 34-22 after the first period before adding to a 65-39 halftime advantage. In the second half, Garland totaled 18 points in the final quarter, but wasn't able to engineer a complete Cavs comeback.
The Cavs are set to embark on a road trip beginning on Thursday night in Indiana against the Pacers.
