LeBron James' hook shot beats Nets, 90-88

CLEVELAND -- Nets coach Lionel Hollins had no one to blame for his team's latest loss.

Except for Cavaliers forward LeBron James, of course.

James dribbled into the teeth of the Nets' defense and hit a running hook shot over the outstretched arms of Brook Lopez with 1.9 seconds remaining to give the Cavaliers a 90-88 victory Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

" set a heck of a pick and I was able to get up a shot," James said. "It was a designed play."

Asked if that was the play he diagrammed in the huddle, Cavaliers coach David Blatt smiled and said, "Yeah, just the way I drew it up. Yep. Give it to No. 23."

After being fouled by J.R. Smith on a three-pointer, Joe Johnson nailed three free throws with 15 seconds remaining to tie the score for the Nets, who led by 12 in the second quarter and seven in the fourth. But the Cavaliers answered by getting the ball to James, never a good thing for a Cavaliers opponent.

"I got to my spot where I wanted to," James said. "I work on those shots. I work on my game a lot. Actually, sometimes it's a little easier when you get someone bigger because you have to get it over the top of them and you just float it right over the top of them."

Said Lopez: "LeBron made a great play. I thought we guarded it well, but he made the shot."

James, who had 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists, believed it was the first time he hit a game-winner with a hook shot. "I've made layups, I've made pull-ups, obviously I've made step-back jumpers," he said. "I might go for the sky hook next time."

Jarrett Jack's desperation heave hit the side of the rim at the buzzer for the Nets.

"We had our chances down the stretch," Hollins said. "We had our opportunities. We just didn't take advantage of them. We can't blame anybody. They played to their strength, and at the end LeBron made a play."

Said James, "Obviously, I want the ball in my hands down the stretch. I feel like I can make something happen for not only myself but for our team. I'm happy I was able to come through for us."

Kevin Love added 26 points and seven rebounds. "We kind of lost Kevin Love a little and he got hot," Hollins said. "That was huge. He was the only one making threes for them."

Mo Williams scored 14 points and Thompson had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers (13-4), who are 9-0 at home.

Lopez had 22 points, Johnson added 17 and Thaddeus Young had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets (3-13, 1-10 on the road). Jack had 12 points and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 10 rebounds and five steals.

Johnson's first-quarter jumper extended the NBA's longest active streak of games with at least one made field goal to 900.

James' sons, LeBron Jr. and Bryce, attended the game. James thinks he has hit a game-winner with them in attendance before, but added it probably didn't matter.

"I guarantee they don't really care," he said with a laugh. "They don't really care about that. They're ready to get home and play their Xbox and video games. It's the weekend, so I'm ready to get home and do that, too."With AP