Cavaliers hit rock bottom in loss to Knicks 114-95
BY STONE LEXINGTON
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been fairly mediocre this season, evidenced by the 3-3 record they entered Sunday with. While their slow start isn’t necessarily indicative of how their season will play out, the rough patch should have the Cavs on notice.
Cleveland’s latest disappointment came in the form of a stunning 114-95 home blowout at the hands of the New York Knicks (2-3). With the win, the Knicks snapped their 10-game losing streak against Cleveland (3-4).
“Until we get our spirits right, it’s going to be like this,” Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said.
The Cavs have had some mind-boggling losses this season, including defeats to the starless Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets. Sunday’s downer against New York was just the latest installment of that trend, as fans began heading for the exits with several minutes still left on the clock.
Slow starts have contributed to the Cavs’ woes, and it crept up again Sunday. Cleveland trailed 29-19 after the first quarter and had to claw their way back into the game before halftime. When Cavs power forward Kevin Love sank a layup with 3:27 remaining in the first half, Cleveland had foughten back to tie the game at 43. But by the time halftime arrived, Cleveland was back down, 62-54.
“Tonight’s loss and the last couple are unacceptable,” Lue said. “The only way we’re going to get out of it is to put the work in as players, as coaches, and we’re going to do that. I’m not concerned.”
It only got worse for the Cavs in the second half, thanks in large part to the combination of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis. The duo combined for 15 points in the third quarter to help the Knicks push their advantage to a 95-72 margin when the third quarter ended. Cleveland cut New York’s lead to a 96-88 margin on a LeBron James layup with 8:20 to play, but the Knicks immediately put together a 9-0 run to take a 103-88 lead. The spurt essentially iced the game.
Entering the day, Hardaway Jr.’s highest point total this season was 14 points and his career high was 36 points. Sunday evening, he dropped 34 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Porzingis finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds, while Enes Kanter totaled 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Love led the Cavs with 22 points and 11 rebounds, his sixth double-double of the season, and surpassed 900 three-pointers for his career. James finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Derrick Rose returned to the Cavs lineup after missing the previous four games with a sprained left ankle. Against his former team on Sunday, he finished with 15 points.
Part of Cleveland struggles have come because of injuries and the team figuring out its chemistry. The Cavs also rolled out their fifth different starting lineup in seven games this season on Sunday.
“All it’s going to do is make us better in the end,” Lue said
POSTED 10/29/2017 22:29
Lake County Sentinel
Photo by Greg Goth