After winning four consecutive games and ending the road trip, the Cavaliers, who were in excellent shape, returned home and ushered in the Challenge of the Nets.
In terms of the Cavaliers, the team's big player Rondo is absent due to injury, and whether the Cavaliers can take advantage of the chase and win 5 consecutive wins has undoubtedly become a major attraction of this game.
On the other hand, on the Nets side, Durant hung up the exemption card, but fortunately, Aldridge ushered in a comeback, and the Nets played away from home, Irving + Harden obviously needed to play.
However, after four quarters of competition, with Garland's outstanding performance, the Cavaliers, who played at home, overpowered the Nets in the first half and occupied the initiative on the court.
Although after returning from the second half, Irving ushered in the outbreak in the third quarter, scoring 14 points in a single quarter, leading the Nets to a wave of counterattack frenzy and successfully overtaking the score.
But helplessly in the final finale, Garland watched the six-way tandem of the whole team, Harden made a key mistake, O'Corro counterattacked the dunk, helping the Cavaliers to lock in the victory in one fell swoop.
The Cavaliers, who finally withstood the pressure, also beat the Nets 114-107 at home, winning a thrilling 5-game winning streak while successfully defending the home stadium!
Facing their own baskets and fans in this game, the Cavaliers will live up to expectations, playing a team offensive that scored in double figures with 6 players and more blossoms.
In the case of Aaron + Markkanen + Mobli + Ocorro + Lefu and other main players, each performing their duties, the core of the team Garland played a crucial leading role!
In this game, Garland singled out the beams, starting 35 minutes, shooting 10 from the middle and 10 of 19, hitting two three-pointers, a team-high 22 points, plus a double-double performance of 6 rebounds, 12 assists and 2 steals.
Among them, his heroic performance of scoring 12 points in the first quarter of the first quarter not only helped the Cavaliers to open the situation smoothly, but also once became the Nets' invincible presence on the guard line!
In addition, according to statistics, in the past two games, Garland has delivered as many as 30 assists, and such an outstanding personal performance has also made him comparable to LeBron James, becoming the second player in the history of the Cavaliers to contribute a total of 30 assists in two consecutive games in the past 20 years!
More importantly, after winning five straight games against the Nets in this game, the Cavaliers also officially surpassed the defending champion Bucks to 4th in the East with a regular season record of 27 wins and 18 losses.
And what we have to admit is that under garland's leadership, this season's Cavaliers have indeed changed like meat!
On the other hand, on the Nets side, the team's offensive and defensive ends of this game were completely suppressed, and finally lost by 7 points, and the performance of the game on the road was obviously still to be examined.
But for the Nets, this game, the team is not completely without highlights!
After all, as the two aces of the team, the play of Irving + Harden in this game is indeed remarkable.
Irving's return to the Cavaliers was efficient, starting 36 minutes and shooting three-pointers on 12-of-23 shooting, scoring a game-high 27 points, plus seven rebounds, nine assists and one steal.
And the good partner Harden also played well, the whole game won a 22 + 7 + 10 + 2 double-double performance, although the key mistake in the last quarter, or let the Nets lose the opportunity to win.
But one thing to say, the performance of Harden + Irving in this game has indeed caused considerable trouble and trouble to the Cavaliers!
Only in the absence of Durant, in the face of the Cavaliers, who are all soldiers, the Nets, who lack the "main backbone" in this campaign, seem to have no choice but to accept the reality of losing.
Rationally speaking, for the Nets and head coach Nash, considering Durant's injury and the team's next road trip, Irving + Harden will obviously face more challenges and tests!