Cleveland Cavaliers Defeat Brooklyn Nets on Wild Closing Sequence

The Cleveland Cavaliers thrilled their fans on Thursday night with a chaotic, frenetic final possession against the Brooklyn Nets. After a missed free throw from Donovan Mitchell, Nets and Cavaliers players scrambled desperately for the loose ball until it found Caris Levert. Lavert passed to Isaac Okoro in the corner, who sunk an incredible three-pointer in the game's final second to secure an improbable 116-114 win.

ISAAC OKORO FOR THE WIN 😱

WHAT A FINISH. pic.twitter.com/21XgHBFyRB
— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2023

It was a close game all night. Mitchell led the Cavs with 31 points, but Evan Mobley was probably their best player, compiling 26 points on 11 of 18 from the floor with 16 rebounds. Nets trade deadline acquisition Mikal Bridges had yet another solid night, hitting 11 of his 19 field goal attempts for 32 points. Okoro was the night's hero, but his big shot came out of nowhere: he had hit a mere three of four shots for eight points before the fateful play.

The win moved the Cavaliers to 47-28, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference. They're all but certain to avoid the play-in tournament; they have a colossal five-game advantage on the fifth-seeded New York Knicks. As for the Nets, they continue their free fall down the standings: after entering the new year 24-12, they've fallen all the way to 39-34 after trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. As the seventh seed, they're still a realistic bet to make the play-in tournament, but competing for the title clearly isn't in their plans this year.

Looking ahead, the Nets visit the Miami Heat for a Saturday night showdown. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers will return home to host the Houston Rockets on Sunday.