The Brooklyn Nets (3-2) will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers (2-5) at the Barclays Center in Tuesday night NBA action.

The match will feature start point guard Deron Williams of the Nets versus second-year sensation Kyrie Irving, who has been showing signs of progression into an elite player.

Struggling in the early going, Brooklyn is hoping that the team's starting backcourt can start performing up to par. However, the Cavs are having issues with their bench, who must pick up their scoring in order to take the pressure off Irving.

The Nets are coming off a disappointing loss on Monday at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the game, Williams and company blew a 22-point lead. To top it off, the Nets were up by 21 points with two minutes left to play and shot at 37.2 percent, a season low.

"We're not happy about how we finished the game and how we also gave up a 20-point lead again, said Williams, according to CBS Sports. "I don't know if we got lackadaisical or what because we were up 20, but this is something that can't happen time after time."

Not helping Brooklyn's woes is the slumping of the newly acquired Joe Johnson. The move to obtain the six-time All-Star had the Nets possessing one of the NBA's elite backcourt combo's. While Williams is performing well at 16.0 points per game and shooting at 45.9 percent, Johnson is only at 13.6 - his lowest point average since the 2002-2003 season.

Fortunately for the Nets, Brook Lopez has come on strong after missing nearly the entire 2011-2012 season due to an injury. The center is averaging 16.4 points.

CLICK HERE to watch the Brooklyn Nets face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers via free live stream. Coverage of the game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Tags
NBA