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Poor fourth quarter dooms Cavaliers in loss to Nets

Despite an efficient game from LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers fell 104-95 to the Brooklyn Nets Thursday. Cleveland led by three entering the fourth quarter but was outscored 24-12 in the final stanza.

With 5:41 left, Cleveland brought James back into the game with a 92-90 lead. However, Brooklyn went on a 14-0 run, and the Cavaliers did not score again until Jordan McRae hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining.

It's the first time a team went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter against a team with James on the court since the Heat did it on Dec. 17, 2005, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

James' minus-14 in the fourth quarter was his worst since returning to the Cavaliers last season. It was the first time all season he was held scoreless in a fourth quarter in which he played. It was also the first time in his career he's scored 30 points through three quarters and was held scoreless in the fourth quarter (minimum five minutes).

James did not receive much help from Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love down the stretch. The "Big Three" were 1-for-11 in the fourth quarter, including 0-for-6 on 3-pointers, for a combined three points. That's the fewest points the trio have combined for in a fourth quarter in which each played at least three minutes.

The only players to score field goals in the fourth quarter for the Cavaliers were Love, Matthew Dellavedova, Richard Jefferson and McRae, who each made one shot.

Prior to the fourth quarter, James was having one of the most efficient games of his career. He made his first 10 shots and finished 13-for-16 overall from the field (81.3 percent).

It's the first time in James' career he lost a game in which he shot at least 75 percent (16-1). The rest of the Cavaliers shot 26-for-73 (35.6 percent).