Nets snap 5-game skid

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Devin Harris scored a season-high 31, Kris Humphries added 13 and 18 rebounds in his first start and the New Jersey Nets snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 95-87 on Wednesday night for their first road win.

Anthony Morrow added 21 points — 15 on 3-pointers — as the Nets bounced back after losing to the Cavs on Tuesday at home. New Jersey won despite not having starting forward Troy Murphy and shooting just 19 of 35 from the free-throw line.

J.J. Hickson scored 15 to lead Cleveland, which led by 11 in the third but went cold down the stretch and had its winning streak stopped at three.

The Cavs also lost guard Mo Williams in the third quarter because of a groin strain.

Williams missed most of training camp and Cleveland’s first three game with a groin injury, but the team said his new injury is not in the same spot as his previous one.

The Nets had their own injury issues. Murphy was inactive after injuring his right foot in Tuesday night’s loss. New Jersey swingman Terrence Williams also missed his second straight game with a strained abdominal muscle.

Humphries filled in for Murphy and was a force inside, not only making up for his teammate’s absence but picking up the slack for center Brook Lopez, who played just 19 minutes — 16 below his average — and received several icy stares from coach Avery Johnson throughout the game.

Hickson’s two-handed, get-out-of-my-way dunk with 4:53 put the Cavs up 81-80 and forced Johnson to call a timeout.

The Nets responded with an 8-0 run triggered by a 3-pointer from Jordan Farmar and capped by a jumper from Morrow that put New Jersey up 88-81.

Antawn Jamison’s basket made it 88-85, but Harris blasted down the right side for a layup and the Nets held on despite missing six of 10 free throws over the final 33 seconds.

Jamison and Ramon Sessions had 14 points apiece for the Cavs, who were outscored 28-18 in the fourth.