Kevin Love practices threes after Cavaliers defeat Nets

The Cavs continue to be one of the positive surprises, to date, of the NBA campaign and have locked coach J.B. Bickerstaff and general manager Koby Altman down via long-term extensions. Brooklyn, meanwhile, was without superstar Kevin Durant, who is sidelined with a left knee injury. 

"It's a signature win for us against a high-level team," Bickerstaff told reporters after the victory that followed Cleveland winning five of six away contests, according to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "Obviously with reasons why and excuses coming back off that long road trip and all those things, playing against two of the most elite players in our league, and our guys figuring out a way.

"To me, the most impressive thing is you hold a team like that to 19 points in the fourth quarter."

Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving, who helped the Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals alongside Love, remarked the Nets cannot simply replace a key asset such as Durant. 

"It's impossible. We just faced that reality right now," Irving said. 

The Cavs next play at the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, while Brooklyn will be at the Washington Wizards that same evening.