Cavs stumble again in 122-110 home defeat to Trail Blazers
cavs-lose-to-blazers-continue-early-season-slide
The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped their second straight home game on Wednesday night, falling 122-110 to the Portland Trail Blazers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The result pushed Cleveland to 13-10 and extended a stretch of four losses in the club’s last five outings.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged the team’s sluggish start but stressed the importance of long-term perspective, noting he anticipated “bumps” early in the schedule. “My job is to keep an eye on the big picture,” Atkinson said after the game.
Despite 33 points from Donovan Mitchell and a 23-point, 10-rebound, five-block performance by Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers could not overcome cold outside shooting. Cleveland finished 13-for-52 from three-point range, a factor Atkinson cited when explaining his preference for more drives to the basket during key possessions.
Starting guards Darius Garland and Lonzo Ball combined to shoot 2-for-22 overall and 1-for-9 each from beyond the arc. DeAndre Hunter added 10 points and three rebounds, while reserve center Thomas Bryant supplied a spark off the bench with 14 points and six boards in 13 minutes.
Portland, now 9-13, received 27 points from forward Deni Avdija, continuing his recent success against Cleveland. The Trail Blazers won despite what Atkinson described as an ordinary performance from the visitors, pointing instead to the Cavaliers’ recurring issues with rebounding, transition defense and shot selection.
With 59 games remaining, Atkinson maintained an upbeat tone and emphasized the season’s length. “The clock isn’t ticking loudly yet,” he said, “but you can hear it warming up.”
Source: Hoops Wire
