1 stud and 1 dud from Cavs blown lead against Atlanta Hawks

Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
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Cavs
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

At a certain point on New Year’s Eve, it looked like the Cleveland Cavaliers were back on track. After a rough week that saw the team lose three times with some number of its rotation in health and safety protocols, and saw a beloved and crucial teammate in Ricky Rubio tear his ACL, the Cavs had righted the ship.

Jarrett Allen and Isaac Okoro were back, and even if Darius Garland wasn’t the Cavs were cruising without him. They held a 15-point halftime lead over the Atlanta Hawks, who were down a whopping 12 players in the health and safety protocols. Then everything fell apart as the Hawks outscored the Cavs 40-22 in the third quarter to take a lead they would never relinquish.

The Cavs were up big on the Hawks but fell apart in the second half. Who were 1 stud and 1 dud from the blown lead on New Year’s Eve?

The standout performers from the Hawks and their limited rotation were clear. Trae Young scored 35 points and dished 11 assists, and Clint Capela put up 18 points and 23 rebounds. The Hawks held off a late rally by the Cavs to win 121-118, snapping their three-game losing streak and handing Cleveland its fourth loss in five games.

Who stood out from the Cavs side of the ledger? The stud is obvious to anyone who watched the game or looked at a box score, as Kevin Love was balling out like it was 2016. Who was the dud? That answer falls on the shoulders of a certain backup point guard pressed into duty. Let’s break it down.