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  Wednesday, Jul. 12 7:00pm ET
Jones' jumper halts Miracle's win streak
 
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CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Merlakia Jones hit a jumper with six-tenths of a second remaining in overtime to lift the Cleveland Rockers to a 74-72 victory over the red-hot Orlando Miracle.
Tricia Bader
Cleveland guard Tricia Bader, left, battles for the ball in the Rockers' victory Wednesday.

After Orlando's Taj McWilliams made two free throws to tie it with 14.7 seconds left, Jones took a pass on the baseline and drilled a 10-foot jumper for the go-ahead basket.

"I just told my teammates I want the ball in my hand," Jones said. "If I miss it, it'll be on me."

Cleveland had a 71-68 lead with 42.8 seconds remaining in the extra period, but two free throws by McWillams with 27.4 seconds left cut the deficit to one. The Rockers went ahead by two less than a second later after Jones made 1-of-2 free throws.

The Miracle had a last chance to tie, but Adrienne Johnson's attempt at the buzzer hit the front of the rim as Orlando had its franchise-record six-game winning streak snapped.

"Merlakia Jones made one heck of a shot," Orlando coach Carolyn Peck said. "It was almost like deja vu with Eva Nemcova hitting it the last time we were here. You play great defense as best you can and sometimes the ball falls the other team's way."

Cleveland had a 71-68 lead with 42.8 seconds remaining in the extra period, but two free throws by McWillams with 27.4 seconds left cut the deficit to one. The Rockers went ahead by two less than a second later after Jones made 1-of-2 free throws.

The Rockers have won four in a row at home and are 8-2 at Gund Arena this season, including a 83-79 overtime victory over the Miracle on June 7. It is Cleveland's longest home winning streak since a club-record seven-game run in 1998.

 


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RECAPS
Detroit 61
Seattle 56

Cleveland 74
Orlando 72

Indiana 81
Washington 58

New York 84
Charlotte 70

Houston 77
Sacramento 62

Utah 76
Portland 67

AUDIO/VIDEO
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 Cleveland's Merlakia Jones hits the game-winning jumper.
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