BROOKLYN, N.Y.: From the Cavaliers’ train wreck emerged a locomotive.
Not in the sense that the Cavs ran over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night at the Barclays Center, even though it felt that way.
LeBron James set the tone with four monstrous first-quarter dunks, Kevin Love looked like a different player and the Cavs bounced back from what was nearly the worst home loss in franchise history. They looked singularly determined and on the same track and the result was an easy 91-78 victory over the Nets.
Predictions of doom followed a 34-point pounding by the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Monday, when the Cavs again appeared unable to compete with the Western Conference’s elite. The Warriors eliminated the Cavs in Game 6 of the NBA Finals in June and were even more dominant as the Cavs suffered their worst setback of the season.
But against the Nets, the Cavs took a team-first approach, passing the ball more and increasing their offensive tempo. It was almost as if they saw the chemistry and camaraderie they admired in the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs in the past week and copied it for themselves.
Four players scored in double figures for the Cavs, led by James and Love with 17 points apiece. Love contributed a game-high 18 rebounds and James added five assists.
Nets coach Tony Brown said before the game that the Cavs “will probably come out breathing fire,” and he was right, especially if he expected the dragon to be James. James wowed the crowd with his fast-break slams as the Cavs opened a 23-17 lead before stretching it to 15 points in the second quarter.
James said at morning shootaround that the Cavs went back to basics in a Tuesday practice he deemed “really, really sharp,” and it carried over to the next day.
It also may have helped that the Cavs had what coach David Blatt hoped would be a clearing-the-air session before flying to New York. What happened made one wonder if the top issue on the agenda was Love.
Before the game, Love vowed to be more active closer to the basket instead of stationing himself outside. Virtually invisible against the Warriors with only three points, Love operated from the elbow against the Nets and seemed rejuvenated. He had a double-double by halftime (14 points, 13 rebounds).
Also contributing significantly for the second consecutive game after having his position in the starting lineup questioned was center Timofey Mozgov. He scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds in 20 minutes.
Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 10 rebounds — the 100th double-double of his career.
The Nets fell to the Cavs by two points Nov. 28 at Quicken Loans Arena. That game took what Brown called “a heroic shot” by James, a running hook with one second remaining, to seal the outcome. This time the issue never seemed in doubt, and what happened on Monday surely played a large part.
Blatt didn’t downplay what happened after the Warriors’ loss.
“It made us pay attention to some very important things,” Blatt said before the game.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.