CLEVELAND, Ohio — There is a specific blueprint to beat the Cavs — and the Portland Trail Blazers followed it to a T.
Cleveland opened its three-game homestand with a 122-110 loss. For the Cavs, it’s their fourth defeat in the last five games — the latest setback to expose all of the team’s flaws.
“We have to play better,” Donovan Mitchell said following the game. “We just have to be better on all accounts. I don’t really have another message than that.”
Prior to the game, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson admitted Portland is the type of opponent that has given Cleveland problems all season.
Speed. Length. Athleticism. Activity. Hunger. Tenacity.
For most of the night, the Cavs couldn’t contain dribble-drives at the point of attack. They fouled repeatedly. Couldn’t keep the Blazers out of the paint. Failed to get back in transition. Gave up numerous second-chance opportunities. An abundance of open shots.
At one point in the third quarter, as the Blazers increased their advantage to a game-high 18 points, boos started pouring down on the Cavaliers.
By the end of the third, Cleveland, which takes pride in its defense, had given up nearly 100 points, answerless against a team that entered the night with just eight wins on the season and was missing an important piece (Jrue Holiday).
The Cavs pulled close in the fourth quarter, cranking up the intensity and making Portland look uncomfortable on the offensive end. They cut the lead to five with 2:37 left, giving fans a modicum of hope.
Too late.
The Blazers answered every push, including that one by scoring seven of the next nine.
Mitchell scored a game-high 33 points. Evan Mobley added 23 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five blocks and two steals.
“Evan was phenomenal tonight,” Atkinson boasted. “That was a Defensive Player of the Year. He literally held this ship together and gave us a chance.”
Jaylon Tyson finished with 14 points — his third straight game in double figures and 11th this season, something he accomplished just four times as a rookie.
The Blazers had six players in double figures. Three with at least 20 points — Deni Avdija (27), Shaedon Sharpe (20) and Caleb Love (20).
Portland ended the game with an edge in rebounding (54-45), free throw attempts (39-24), second-chance points (10-7), fast-break points (17-15), assists (27-23), bench points (46-24) and made 3s (14-13). Forty-five of their 85 shots came in the paint. They led for 34 minutes — the entire second half.
“I felt like in the first half we lost our spirit a bit,” Atkinson admitted. “I saw some slumped shoulders, which resiliency and mental toughness is keeping your spirit right and your competitive spirit, right? We talked about it at halftime, and I thought we did that. So I’m proud of the guys for kind of turning that.”
“I’m not disappointed in the guys. I’m not down on the guys. There’s none of that stuff. I think my job is to understand the big picture and have perspective. I think we’ve just got some things we’re dealing with and I kind of knew coming into the season there was going to be some struggles until we get everybody in their slots.”
Cleveland was once again without four rotational players — Sam Merrill (right hand sprain), Jarrett Allen (strained right finger), Larry Nance Jr. (calf strain) and Max Strus (foot surgery). Those absences continue to be felt during this rough stretch.
But no excuses.
Following Sunday’s halfhearted effort against the wounded Celtics, multiple Cavaliers discussed the need to play with more hunger and effort.
That lasted one night.
Out-played. Out-hustled. Out-toughed. Again.
It’s a nasty trend. Performances like Wednesday are becoming the norm.
“We can’t lose three in a row, have a promising performance against Indiana and then come out and do this,” Mitchell said. “No matter who’s out there, no matter who’s playing, no matter what we’re doing, we all have to have it. We’ve done it — and that’s what is frustrating. We’ve done it. We’ve shown it. So, let’s continue to make that a habit. Right now, we’re not where we want to be, not where we need to be. We have time. It’s December. But at some point we gotta — as a collective — we gotta do it.”
Up next
The Cavs will continue their homestand against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
