The Cleveland Cavaliers have had some bumps in the road this season, but through it all, they have established themselves as a top team in the league, with a top-5 net rating and a top-3 record in the Eastern Conference. With Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Love returning to the lineup, a matchup with the league’s worst team and 30th-ranked defense should have been a cakewalk.
Well, that’s why you play the games. The San Antonio Spurs were attacking the glass early and hitting their shots, while the Cavs looked a touch slow and were ice-cold from deep. They were down by 18 points at the half, a dismal showing. They turned things around in the second half, but their furious rally fell a point short in the 112-111 loss. Dan Gilisnky breaks down the game in more detail and highlights a stud and a dud from the contest.
More Cavs news
The Cavs’ loss to the Spurs drops Cleveland to 5-9 on the road, tied with the Atlanta Hawks for the worst road record among the East’s top eight. They are a dominant 12-2 at home, and while most teams are better at home than on the road that seven-game disparity is the third-worst in the league. The worst? That would be old foe Golden State; the Warriors are an identical 12-2 at home but just 2-11 on the road.
On King James Gospel yesterday Robbie DiPaola broke down the Cavs’ schedule for the rest of the calendar year, making a record prediction for the final 10 games. Here is the remaining schedule:
@ Spurs (L)
@ Mavericks
vs Pacers
vs Mavericks
vs Jazz
vs Bucks
vs Raptors
vs Nets
@ Pacers
@ Bulls
Write down your prediction, then head over to see what Robbie thinks will happen.
NBA news
The league-leading Celtics have not enjoyed their trip to California, losing handily to the Warriors on Saturday and the LA Clippers last night; Kawhi Leonard went 10-for-12 in the 113-93 victory. The Pacific Coast continued their big night further north, where Damian Lillard hit 11 3-pointers and the Portland Trail Blazers put away the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Coming up: The Cavs lick their wounds and prepare to take on Luka Doncic and the Mavericks in Dallas, the first of their two matchups with the Mavs this week