Pierce leads Nets over Cavaliers

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Paul Pierce scored 17 of his 22 points in a flawless first quarter, and the Brooklyn Nets quickly pulled away in the second on the way to their 12th straight home victory, 108-97 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Joe Johnson added 14 points for the Nets, who played three straight overtime games on their road trip, losing the last two of them. But things were much easier back home, where they won for the 19th time in their last 21 games.

They are hoping to open the playoffs here, but still have work to do to catch either Toronto or Chicago for home-court advantage in the first round.

The Nets were without Kevin Garnett for a 15th straight game because of back spasms and Andrei Kirilenko for a third in a row because of a sprained left ankle, but had six players score in double figures and shot 55 percent from the field. They scored the first 12 points of the second quarter to break away from a 29-all tie, and Cleveland never put much of a dent in the lead.

Luol Deng and Dion Waiters each scored 20 points for the Cavaliers, who had won three in a row. They had pulled off a pair of big fourth-quarter comebacks during the win streak, beating Detroit on Wednesday on Waiters’ jumper as time expired, but there was no run in this one.

Deron Williams and Alan Anderson each scored 13 points for Brooklyn, which improved to 11-4 this month and can tie the franchise record for most victories in March by beating Minnesota here Sunday night.

Williams made a 3-pointer and Pierce hit two straight for a 9-0 Brooklyn lead, and Pierce was 4 for 4 before the first was half over. 7