CLEVELAND, Ohio — That wasn’t the birthday current Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff wished.
Depleted Cleveland acquired thumped at house by the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday evening, 120-101. It’s the Cavs’ fourth loss within the final seven video games, persevering with a string of uneven, injury-wrecked play for the reason that All-Star break. Brooklyn snapped a two-game dropping skid.
The Cavs entered the evening on the heels of a press release win — a bodily and thrilling time beyond regulation triumph towards the Western Convention’s top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. They have been hoping to construct on that and discover a degree of elusive consistency.
Not Sunday. Not with out 4 rotational regulars.
“The blokes competed and gave what that they had, however sooner or later, emotionally and bodily, you simply run out of gasoline,” Bickerstaff defined. “Everyone was making an attempt to step up yet another man down. They competed within the first half after which the third quarter type of broke our again.”
Already lacking Max Strus (knee pressure), Donovan Mitchell (knee bone bruise) and Evan Mobley (sprained ankle) — 60% of the standard beginning lineup — Cleveland dominated out do-it-all ahead Dean Wade earlier within the day. Wade, who had already been filling in as a spot starter for Mobley, is away from the crew tending to a private matter that might sideline him Monday evening as effectively.
All these absences proved too troublesome to beat towards the feisty Nets.
“They simply outplayed us tonight,” Cavs middle Jarrett Allen admitted.
The Cavs by no means led within the first half. Regardless of utilizing a spirited 10-2 run on the finish of the second quarter to enter the halftime locker room someway trailing by only one level, they acquired ambushed within the third quarter. Brooklyn pushed its lead again to double digits on the 4:29 mark of the third. By the tip of the interval, after the Nets put up 44 factors, Cleveland was down by 16 — and, wanting to avoid wasting legs on the primary evening of a back-to-back, Bickerstaff subbed in numerous non-regulars who’ve spent a lot of the season with the G League affiliate Cost (Emoni Bates, Isaiah Mobley and Pete Nance).
The Nets’ benefit ultimately elevated to a game-high 26 earlier than cruising to a win.
In entrance for lower than two complete minutes within the loss, the Cavs have been led by Georges Niang, who made his third consecutive begin. Niang scored 20 factors on 8 of 12 taking pictures and three of 5 from 3-point vary in 24 minutes.
Allen chipped in with 15 factors and 9 rebounds. Level guard Darius Garland added 14 factors and 5 assists. Undrafted rookie Craig Porter Jr., referred to as on for extra taking part in time, completed with 13 factors off the bench. Typical sixth man Caris LeVert, making his second begin this season out of necessity, had six factors and 7 assists in 29 minutes.
“We simply by no means actually acquired out the mud,” Niang stated. “Within the third quarter, that’s simply onerous to make up that kind of floor, particularly once we’re down in our bodies. That’s on us to return and have a look at what we have to do popping out of the half to maintain what we have been doing within the second quarter. We by no means actually appeared to get it rolling tonight and that basically harm us towards this crew. We’re simply grinding to discover a rhythm when everyone is collectively. It looks like it’s solely occurred a pair instances this yr. However I feel we’ll be effectively off when it does.”
Brooklyn, which prevented a season collection sweep, acquired a game-high 29 factors from dynamic guard Cam Thomas. Swingman Mikal Bridges tallied 25 factors, 5 boards and 5 dimes. Dennis Schroder added 17 factors and eight assists.
In that turnaround third quarter, the Nets shot 17 of 24 from the sphere and eight of 10 from past the arc.
“We allowed some open ones after which we began to permit their rolls and dunks and issues like that,” Bickerstaff stated when requested in regards to the defensive lapses. “It simply wasn’t an amazing quarter defensively for us. And so they made pictures on prime of it.”
For the third time this season, there was an on-court altercation between the 2 groups. This time, Niang acquired into it with Brooklyn middle Nic Claxton, after tossing Claxton to the courtroom after which stepping over him. Each gamers have been referred to as for technical fouls and the feelings appeared to quell after that — till the buzzer sounded, when the Nets might begin celebrating a uncommon March victory.
After turning 45 on Sunday, Bickerstaff was purported to be the one celebrating. Not after this clunker.
The Cavs will play the second recreation of a back-to-back on Monday evening towards the Phoenix Suns. Tipoff is about for 7:30 p.m.