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NBA Scores: LeBron Leads Cavaliers Past Nets to Lock Up Home Court in Fist Round
LeBron James scored 35 points and grabbed 8 rebounds while Larry Hughes added 19 points and 6 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers (47-32) crushed the New Jersey Nets (37-41) 94-76 to secure home court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
James scored 15 in the deciding third quarter as the Cavaliers opened up a 21 point lead after holding a 36-32 lead at halftime.
Cleveland shot 52 percent from the floor and pulled down 13 more rebounds than the Nets, who let slide an opportunity to inch closer to securing a postseason birth. Vince Carter provided the only offense for the Nets, finishing with 26 points while Richard Jefferson and Jason Kidd combined to shoot 4-22 for 13 points.
New Jersey currently has the number seven seed in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of the Orlando Magic. The Nets have a two game lead over the Indiana Pacers, a team they will have to face on Sunday.
The Cavaliers are tied with Chicago for the number two seed but the Bulls own the tie-breaker. Cleveland seems to have the schedule in their favor as they finish with Atlanta, Philadelphia and Milwaukee while Chicago takes on Charlotte, Washington and New Jersey.
