Cleveland Cavaliers beat NJ Nets,105-100 12 Gallery: Cleveland Cavaliers beat NJ Nets,105-100

NEWARK, N.J. – Eight months ago, Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson were drafted by the Cavaliers in this very building.

Irving was the No. 1 overall pick, and he's played like it all season. Thompson was taken No. 4, and has been slower in his development, particularly on the offensive end. But Monday night in the Prudential Center both rookies delivered the kind of performances Cavaliers fans have dreamed about since they walked across the stage here on June 23, 2011.

Irving scored 26 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to rally the Cavaliers to 105-100 victory before 11,254 fans. Thompson, meanwhile, had a spectacular night in just his second start. He scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds..

"We know Kyrie has had games like that, but Tristan in his second start, to come out and play like that was really encouraging," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "Again, we talked about with him his learning curve is pretty quick. To have a career night like he did was big time because the first half he really kept us with that lead because he played so well."

The last pair of rookie NBA teammates to each score at least 26 points in a game was Kevin Durant (47) and Jeff Green (27) on April 16, 2008 for the Seattle SuperSonics. Irving and Thompson played huge roles on a night the Cavaliers won their eighth road game, surpassing their total of seven last season.

Is this the first of many dynamic games for the duo?

"We'll see," Irving said. "Tristan played really well. Hopefully, he can have a lot of nights like this and contribute as well as he did tonight. He played really big for us, especially down the stretch on the defensive end."

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Irving and Thompson combined for 20 fourth-quarter points and six rebounds to help the Cavaliers erase an 88-82 deficit with 8:22 remaining. The point guard had the Cavaliers' last six points, adding to his reputation for fourth-quarter heroics.

He entered the contest as the league's leading scorer (8.4) in the fourth quarter since Jan. 27, the night he had 19 of his 32 points in the final period against these same Nets. Irving did it just nine miles from his hometown of West Orange, N.J. He purchased six tickets for friends and family and got a rousing ovation from the crowd during pre-game introductions.

"I think I got as many cheers as some of the Nets starters," Irving said.

It also was a homecoming of sorts for Thompson and fellow center Samardo Samuels, who played high school ball at St. Benedict High School in Newark. But Thompson wasn't worried about catching up with old mates after a tough outing in his first start Sunday in a 103-87 loss to Atlanta. Thompson managed just seven points and six rebounds and was pushed around by Hawks center Zaza Pachulia.

"Last night, Zaza came out and outplayed me and coach let it be known," Thompson said. "I knew for myself and I took responsibility."

Against the Nets, Thompson played against Kris Humphries, a smaller opponent than Pachulia. Thompson had nine points after a quarter and 17 at the half.

The Cavaliers also received big efforts from Samuels (10 points and six rebounds) and Donald Sloan (11 points), who was just signed Friday after playing in the Development League. He was forced to play 19-plus minutes as Daniel Gibson suffered asecond-half ankle sprain.

The team did not have reserve guard Manny Harris available because he was accidentally marked inactive because of what Scott said was a "clerical" error in filling out the lineup.

Deron Williams had 28 points for the Nets.

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