Cavaliers at Nets
THE STORY: The Cleveland Cavaliers and New Jersey Nets chose drastically different paths at last week’s trade deadline. The Cavaliers traded key reserve Ramon Sessions while on the cusp of the playoffs, while the Nets dealt a potential high lottery pick for small forward Gerald Wallace despite being 6½ games out of the playoffs. The Cavaliers, who visit New Jersey on Monday, have lost three straight, while the Nets have dropped four of their last five.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cavaliers), YES (Nets)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (16-26): Alonzo Gee is evolving into the third scoring threat the Cavaliers desperately seek. Gee tied his career high, set earlier this season, with 20 points in Sunday’s loss to the Hawks. Antawn Jamison and Kyrie Irving account for 37 percent of the Cavaliers’ scoring and when either has an off night, the Cavaliers struggle to score. Gee is slowly changing that, averaging 16.2 points and 6.5 assists in his last six games.
ABOUT THE NETS (15-31): The Nets signed high-flying Gerald Green for the rest of the season, although the acquisition of Wallace will prevent Green from moving into the starting lineup. Green, a former first-round pick who signed with the Nets out of the Development League following the All-Star break, has scored in double figures in each of the last five games, including 16 points in Saturday’s loss to the Hornets.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Irving recorded his first double-double with 19 points and 10 assists in Sunday’s loss to the Hawks.
2. All five Nets starters have scored in double figures only twice, but once was a New Year’s Day loss at Cleveland.
3. Wallace had 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and three blocks in his debut with the Nets on Saturday.