Cavaliers top Nets, 95-91

As Cavs throw up bricks, Miller’s mortar builds up a victory

The Cavaliers’ Big Three combined to make a bricklike 30 percent of their shots (14 of 46), yet it didn’t matter.

The Cavaliers unveiled their new weapon: 34-yearold Mike Miller.

Miller scored a season-high 21 points in the Cavs’ 95-91 hard-fought victory over the Brooklyn Nets Dec. 19 at Quicken Loans Arena.

The 6-foot-8, 218-pound Miller, who had missed the previous seven games with a concussion, scored 19 points on the season coming into the game. He made his first start of the season.

None of the Big Three struggled more than power forward Kevin Love.

Love converted just 1 of 10 from the field. He did haul in a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with his six points.

Forward LeBron James added a team-high 22 points, four rebounds and nine assists. He shot just 7 of 18 from the floor.

Finally, point guard Kyrie Irving made just 6 of 17 attempts en route to 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Cavs (15-10) shot just 40 percent from the field. The Nets shot 47 percent.

Veteran Joe Johnson paced the Nets with a gamehigh 26 points. Center Mason Plumlee added 14 points and nine rebounds.

The Cavs closed the first half on 15-4 run, including 13 unanswered, for a 54-49 advantage. They never relinquished the lead in the second half.

They took their first lead of the game, 48-45, on Miller’s fifth 3-pointer. He converted 5 of 6 from behind the arc in the first half for a season-high 15 points.

Nets point guard Deron Williams strained his right calf in the second quarter and didn’t return. He came into the game 11th in the NBA in assists at 6.9 per game.

He was replaced by former Cavs point guard Jarrett Jack, who ended with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists.

He was dealt to Brooklyn in the offseason when the Cavs were trying to create cap space to sign James. One other player sent to the Nets was swingman Sergey Karasev, who was questionable for the game with a strained left oblique muscle. He ended up in the starting lineup and had a career-high 12 points in the first half.

Finnan’s postgame analysis: http://clevelandcavaliersblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/game-25-nets-at-cavs. html

Tony Dejak/Associated Press The Cavaliers’ LeBron James drives past the Nets’ Mirza Teletovic during the first quarter on Dec. 19 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press The Cavaliers’ Mike Miller makes 3 of his 21 points on Dec. 19 against the Nets at Quicken Loans Arena.