Cavs Scrape By Nets

Don Casey's final game as coach of the New Jersey Nets was like so many others over the last 1 1/2 seasons: His team found yet another way to lose.

Lamond Murray hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 11.9 seconds remaining and the Cleveland Cavaliers scored the final six points to beat New Jersey 111-108 Wednesday night. It was the Nets' 24th loss in 34 games decided by five points or less.

"We didn't want to end the season without showing you another way to lose a game," said Casey, who is expected to be fired next week after he meets with owner Lewis Katz. "I thought I'd seen it all. But that's the way it's been. Whether they're tired, poorly coached, I don't know. But it's repetitive."

"Again we went to great efforts, but a loss. And we lost it."

Cavaliers coach Randy Wittman wasn't concerned that his team's odds of getting the top pick in the draft will be reduced ever so slightly.

"Every time you step on the court, you want to win," Wittman said. "It's a matter of personal pride and professionalism."

Murray had 27 points, including six of the Cavs' final eight. Shawn Kemp added 23 points and 13 rebounds.

Johnny Newman and Keith Van Horn scored 29 points each for New Jersey, which had only seven healthy players. Kendall Gill added 24 points, but threw up an airball with three secons to go and the Nets behind 109-108.

Elliott Perry hit two free throws with 19.6 seconds to play to give the Nets a 108-105 lead. Murray was fouled on a drive at the other end with 16.1 seconds to go. He made the first and missed the second free throw, but Van Horn lost the rebound out of bounds, giving the ball back to Cleveland.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Danny Ferry found Murray on the left wing and he nailed his 3-pointer over Newman.

"We were trying to get a two but I was so wide open I took the shot," Murray said. "We played hard, we played together and pulled out the win. We were playing for pride, there wasn't much else on the line."

After Gill's airball, Kemp made two free throws with 1.7 seconds to go.

Lucious Harris last-gasp 3-pointer hit off the side of the rim.

"It's characteristic of so many games this year," Van Horn said. "We've lost close games every way we possibly could. It's frustrating. But I still think we know we can play with anybody."

Bob Sura added 13 points, and Brevin Knight and Mark Bryant had 10 for the Cavaliers, who ended a two-game losing streak and won for only the third time in 10 games. The win also ended a four-game road losing streak and was only the team's 10th on the road this season.

The meaningless game had a couple of ugly moments.

Gheorghe Muresan of the Nets angered Kemp by swatting the ball into him late in the third quarter, and Kemp didn't hesitate to shove the 7-foot-7 giant. Both got technicals.

Jamie Feick of the Nets and Ferry shoved each other with 3:30 left in the game and got technicals.

Notes