TITLE: Cavaliers Booed After OT Loss as Central Division Issues Mount
SLUG: cavaliers-booed-bucks-routed-central-division-updates
CONTENT:
The Cleveland Cavaliers left Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to a chorus of boos Sunday night after an overtime defeat to the short-handed Charlotte Hornets, extending a rocky stretch for one of the preseason favorites in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland Stumbles in Overtime
Cleveland trailed for much of the game but forced an extra period before missing all 10 of its shots in overtime, falling to a Hornets team playing without LaMelo Ball. The loss dropped the Cavaliers to 15-12, tying them for eighth place in the conference.
“We deserve it. I was a fan once. I would boo us, too,” guard Donovan Mitchell said of the crowd’s reaction.
Injury Concerns Continue
Injuries remain a central theme for Cleveland. Point guard Darius Garland showed visible discomfort late in the game as he continues to manage a surgically repaired toe. Center Jarrett Allen returned after missing nine games with a finger injury, while forward Evan Mobley is expected to miss roughly a month because of a strained left calf.
Merrill’s Finger Still an Issue
Sharp-shooting guard Sam Merrill has been sidelined for four weeks with a jammed right finger suffered in an on-court collision. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said Merrill’s swelling is subsiding, but the guard still has limited use of the hand. “He’s frustrated. We’re frustrated,” Atkinson noted, adding that imaging showed no structural damage.
Bucks Blown Out in Brooklyn
The Milwaukee Bucks endured a 45-point loss Sunday to the Brooklyn Nets, two days after a morale-boosting win over Boston. Milwaukee sits precariously in the East’s final play-in spot. “That was probably one of the more disappointing games I’ve ever been involved in,” head coach Doc Rivers said, citing effort issues and a tendency to blame officiating rather than taking responsibility.
PACERS Give Jones Game-Day Experience
Second-round rookie Kam Jones has yet to make his season debut, but the Indiana Pacers placed the shooting guard on the active list Friday. Head coach Rick Carlisle said being part of the full game-day routine offers developmental value even without minutes on the court.
The Central Division clubs now turn their attention to tightening standings and lingering health questions as the season’s midpoint approaches.
Source: Hoops Rumors
