The Cavaliers suffered through another slow quarter, but this time it was the right one. After a tough fourth period in Game 5 and an eight-point third frame on Friday, Cleveland outscored the host Nets by 15 in the final 12 minutes to eliminate New Jersey with an 88-72 Game 6 win.LeBron James picked up three fouls in the first six minutes of the third quarter and was forced to sit down with four personals, and the Nets used a 14-0 run to close what had been a 22-point deficit to just one. New Jersey outscored Cleveland 22-8 in the period and trailed by the slimmest of margins after three.
James returned with a vengeance, scoring nine of his 23 points in the fourth to propel the Cavs to a 27-12 advantage and also finished with eight rebounds and eight assists. Donyell Marshall sank six 3-pointers for his 18 points, which surpassed the total that he had amassed in 43 minutes of Cleveland's first nine games.
Jason Kidd turned in another strong performance with 19 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists - all team highs - and concluded his playoff run with averages of 14.6, 10.9 and 10.9. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire postseason. Oscar Robertson averaged 28.8, 11.0 and 11.0 in a 3-1 first-round loss in 1962.
Richard Jefferson added 16 points, and Vince Carter scored 11 in what could turn out to be his New Jersey farewell.
Detroit will host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, a rematch of last year's second round, on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
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