Nets hold off Cavs, move to 2-0 under Carlesimo

NEW YORK: Brook Lopez scored a season-high 35 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets improved to 2-0 under interim coach P.J. Carlesimo by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-100 on Saturday night.
Lopez followed his 26-point, 11-rebound performance in a victory Friday over Charlotte by shooting 13 of 20 from the field, making a number of timely baskets in the fourth quarter that the Nets ultimately needed to hold on.
Deron Williams and Joe Johnson each scored 15 points for the Nets, who fired coach Avery Johnson on Thursday and followed with two victories over losing teams. But now, they head off for major tests at San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
CJ Miles scored 33 points and made eight 3-pointers for the Cavs, but Kyrie Irving capped a miserable shooting night when his tying 3-point attempt went in and out. He finished with 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting.
Carlesimo provided little details of the lunch meeting with owner Mikhail Prokhorov, beyond that they ate at a Greek restaurant in Manhattan. Carlesimo said they talked about food and a little about the team over about two hours in his first extended conversation with Prokhorov. Asked what he learned about his boss, Carlesimo said: “I think if we would keep winning games, that would be good. He definitely prefers winning.”
Carlesimo kept his sense of humor about the situation, responding to a question about Jeff Van Gundy’s candidacy by saying: “I told Mikhail today in no uncertain terms I didn’t want him talking to anybody.” But he was serious when asked if the ability to make any list of coaching candidates meaningless by winning games, as Mike Woodson did last season with the Knicks, was available to him.
“I think it’s available. I think we need (to) win and there’s also coaches that are available and that’s not something I have any control over,” Carlesimo said, adding that the Nets played well Friday and would “just go at it like one day at a time and let’s see what’s going to happen.”
Hawks 109, Pacers 100: At Atlanta, Lou Williams had 21 points and a career-high 12 assists, Al Horford added 20 points and the Atlanta Hawks won their fourth straight.
Atlanta’s leading scorer, Josh Smith, has a strained right hip flexor and missed the game.
Hornets 98, Bobcats 95: At Charlotte, North Carolina, Eric Gordon had 24 points and seven assists, helping New Orleans overcome a 21-point first-half deficit and extend Charlotte’s losing streak to 18 games.
Gordon played for the first time this season following arthroscopic surgery on his knee last season because of a bone bruise.
Bulls 87, Wizards 77: At Chicago, Marco Belinelli came off the bench to score 17 points and lead Chicago.
Timberwolves 111, Suns 107: At Minneapolis, Nikola Pekovic had 28 points and 11 rebounds and Kevin Love added 23 points and 18 boards to lift Minnesota.
Also, Brandon Roy has seemingly tried everything to ease the chronic pain in his knees and rejuvenate his career. After a last-ditch arthroscopic surgery didn’t do the trick last month, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard might be out of options.
Roy is considering a second, and likely final, retirement after the pain in his right knee returned this week, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because a final decision has yet to be made.
Thunder 124, Rockets 94: At Houston, Russell Westbrook scored 28 points and Kevin Durant added 26 as Oklahoma City built a big lead in the second quarter and rolled.