Cavs: 3 takeaways from 115-100 win at Pistons on Monday

Takeaway #1: Vets led the way

Kevin Love very much set the tone in this game with what he did in the opening minutes and in the first half.

When you’re on a long seven-game losing streak and you’ve been struggling, you need your five-time All-Star to set the tone and that’s exactly what Love did.

Love scored eight of the Cavs’ first 24 points, with all of his 20 points in the first half, which included him hitting six-of-eight from three-point range, to go with seven rebounds, and that was in 24 minutes of action, per ESPN.

He was the tone-setter and played a big role in terms of getting the Cavaliers back in the win column on Monday.

The Cavs’ other longtime veteran Tristan Thompson also played a big part in snapping their seven-game losing streak. Thompson had the toughest challenge of the night going up against fellow big man Andre Drummond of the Pistons.

Thompson had 17 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes, notching his 22nd double-double of the 2019-20 season, as indicated by Fox Sports (which hasn’t accounted for Monday’s game just yet).

Thompson drew a lot of fouls in this game, in which he had numerous and-one opportunities, and he shot seven-of-eight for the game. Thompson also did a nice job holding Andre Drummond in check in this contest, too.

Andre Drummond is a double-double machine and coming into this game he had 37 of those, and did not notch one (only Giannis Antetokounmpo has more at 39), and Drummond’s well known as someone who creates havoc on the boards and again Thompson did a nice job of defending him and boxing him out.

Drummond had to work extra hard, but you won’t completely stop Drummond, as he still had a good game with 15 points and 8 rebounds and also four assists, three steals and two blocks, but he didn’t dominate on the boards and inside like he typically does. Drummond also committed four turnovers.

For instance, Drummond had 20 points and 21 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets in Detroit’s last game, to go with two blocks, according to ESPN. Anyway, the veterans who are the two remaining starters from the Wine and Gold’s 2016 championship team led the way and were the biggest reason the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to snap their seven-game losing streak.