The Cleveland Cavaliers put fear into the hearts of most opponents that came into their arena last season. That isn’t the case anymore.
Cleveland has lost five of its last six home games, including a 119-111 overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 14. The Cavaliers became the 12th team in NBA history to go scoreless in OT.
Charlotte is back in town Monday, looking for a repeat performance.
“We just beat this Cleveland team, so we’ve got to go out there and have the same mindset, have the same mentality,” said Hornets forward Miles Bridges, who collected 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in their last appearance. “And don’t play like we played (vs. Detroit).”
The Hornets are coming off a 112-86 loss to the Detroit Pistons, who punished them on the glass 61-43 Saturday and allowed Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham to all amass double-digit rebounds.
Rookie guard Kon Knueppel and Bridges had 19 points apiece for the Hornets, but Brandon Miller was their only other player with more than eight, scoring 14. Charlotte shot a dismal 31.5% from the field, including a 3-of-14 outing by LaMelo Ball.
Charlotte’s standout guard, Ball is averaging 18.0 points and 9.5 assists in two games since returning from a bruised left ankle.
“It was a great test for our team. Physically and mentally, where’s your toughness level? You’re going on the road, playing a team that prides itself on being really physical and tough,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “… As a young team, when we get down, everybody wants to do it themselves. We’ve got to continue to trust the pass even in those tough moments.”
Knueppel, Miller and rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner each had seven rebounds, but clearly were worn down by the Pistons. Charlotte was outscored 33-14 in the fourth quarter as Cunningham completed his triple-double.
The injury-plagued Cavaliers have been off since Friday, when they were outscored 21-10 in the final six minutes in a 136-125 loss to the visiting Chicago Bulls, once again facing boos from the fans in attendance during this recent skid.
Six-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging a career-best 30.7 points with a league-high 105 3-pointers, was not in uniform because of an illness. Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley (strained left calf) is out until January.
“We’re losing too many of those sprint battles, and it’s the zero-second reactions (causing it), Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Even after a turnover, it’s like these teams are just going. As soon as the ball is loose, they’re gone.
Though Cleveland has lost nine of its last 14 games and is 1-5 at home since Nov. 30, it did have two things to cheer about against the Bulls.
Point guard Darius Garland had a season-high 35 points and eight assists in his most effective game since offseason toe surgery. Center Jarrett Allen had 14 points and 12 rebounds, despite playing with a fracture in one hand and a strained finger on the other.
“(That’s) the old Darius that we know,” Allen said. “I feel like he’s finally finding himself on the offensive end, trying to get other people involved and his shot is finally falling.”
“… It gives everybody confidence.”
Mitchell and backup guard Craig Porter Jr., who also is ill, are listed as probable to return against Charlotte on the official injury report.
