CLEVELAND, Ohio, (Reuters) – Ronald Murray landed a three-pointer with 56 seconds remaining as the Charlotte Bobcats snapped the Cleveland Cavaliers’ seven-game winning streak with a 91-88 victory on Sunday.
Murray’s shot put Charlotte up 86-83 and the Cavaliers, who had won 11 straight at home, were unable to recover with LeBron James missing what would have been a game-tying three-pointer as time expired.
“I felt like it (the three-pointer) took all the air out of the building,” Murray said. “I prefer road games, they make me feel more ready.”
Murray’s team mate Stephen Jackson hailed the game changing shot, which silenced the home crowd.
“That three-pointer by Flip (Murray) changed everything,” Jackson, who had 22 points, told reporters. “It gave us all confidence.”
With 2.5 seconds to play and Charlotte leading by one, Jackson held his nerve to land two clutch free throws.
“I make love to pressure,” Jackson said.
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was upset with his side’s failure to foul Murray, a poor free-throw shooter, before the ball went to Jackson, who landed the final blows.
“We are supposed to try to get the steal, and if you can’t then foul him,” Brown said. “He got the ball out of the trap and got it to their best free-throw shooter.”
The road win was only the third of the season for Charlotte, the fourth placed team in the Southeast Division with a 14-18 overall record.
Gerald Wallace had 19 points to go with 12 rebounds and Raymond Felton added 17. Murray finished with 10.
“They have some really good pieces and match-up really well with us,” said James, who finished with 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Cleveland, 27-9 overall and 13-3 at home, had not lost on their own court since suffering defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 5.
“It was just one of those days,” said Mo Williams, who contributed 27 points. “You can’t expect to be great and sharp all of the time.”