Nets say series may have turned in their favor.

Byline: George M. Thomas

CLEVELAND _ Although the New Jersey Nets remain down 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals, they sensed a shift in momentum that might give them a shot of confidence as they return to their home court Friday in East Rutherford.

For three quarters of the game, the Nets played with focused intensity, shooting a whopping 57 percent during that span, while the Cavs could only hit 38 percent.

And even when the Nets went stone cold in the fourth quarter, connecting on 1-of-15 shots, they still managed to win, 83-72.

"We were pumped; we did not panic before the game," said forward Bostjan Nachbar, who …