Cavaliers show flashes of brilliance vs. Nets, but they remain a work in progress as Knicks' biggest competition in East

"For a few stretches Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers offered a reminder of just how dangerous they can be. They outscored the Nets in the first quarter, 34-23, and opened the second half on a 20-7 run in which they went 5-of-5 on 3-pointers. But Friday night's 131-124 victory at Barclays Center also demonstrated that the Cavs - the Knicks' biggest competition in the wide-open Eastern Conference - remain a work in progress."

"Cleveland led, 110-88, early in the fourth quarter, only for the rebuilding Nets to unleash a furious 32-11 run that made it a one-point game with less than four minutes to go. And while the Cavs (1-1) managed to close out the victory, it was an uneven performance from a Cleveland team in search of a bounce back after Wednesday night's season-opening 119-111 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden."

"There were positive takeaways for Cleveland, which shot 53.7% from the field, forced 20 turnovers and got 31 points from its new-look bench. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 35 points on 10-of-15 shooting, while Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill scored 22 points apiece. But the Cavaliers led by as many as 25 points on Friday, and the Nets (0-2) outscored them, 38-23, in the fourth quarter."

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 131-124 while alternating dominant offensive stretches with late defensive breakdowns. Cleveland opened strong, outscoring Brooklyn 34-23 in the first quarter and starting the second half on a 20-7 run that included five straight made 3-pointers. The Cavs led by as many as 25 points before the Nets rallied with a 32-11 fourth-quarter run that made it a one-point game late. Cleveland shot 53.7%, forced 20 turnovers and received 31 bench points; Donovan Mitchell scored 35, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill added 22 each. Darius Garland, Max Strus and De'Andre Hunter remain sidelined, while Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. continue to integrate into the roster; Ball dished eight assists Friday after earlier turnovers against the Knicks.

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