Cavs: Cleveland chokes away lead after Steph Curry happened

Cavs lose their third straight game thanks to Steph Curry

The Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves in an unexpected position, leading by double-digits over the powerhouse Golden State Warriors at the end of three periods. And then Stephen Curry proceeded to completely decimate the Cavs to snatch the 104-89 win.

Curry proved once again why he deserves to be the frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player award, pouring in half of his 40 massive points in the final period to erase the Warriors’ 13-point deficit and will his team to victory. All while the undermanned Cavaliers crumbled.

Being without five of the team’s eight rotation guys, Cleveland wasn’t even supposed to be in a position to win. But they scrapped and fought.

After coming off a strong start, the Cavs continued to go neck-and-neck with the league’s best team, even rallying to go ahead by as much as 13 points after three quarters. And then it was all doom and gloom for the home team as they were outclassed 36-8 in the final 12 minutes of the match.

Curry had immediately dropped nine quick points to open the quarter, and the Cavs were suddenly playing terribly–no two ways about it.

Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 25 points and five assists, while Kevin Love and Dean Wade stepped up to contribute 17 markers each as the team lost three consecutive games to fall to 9-8 in the standings.

The Cavs can regroup during the upcoming break

Cleveland played without Collin Sexton (meniscus tear), Evan Mobley (elbow sprain), Jarret Allen (illness), Lauri Markkanen (reconditioning), as well as Cedi Osman (back spasms), all having been vital to the team’s early-season success.

Now for some good news: the injury-plagued squad will get three days rest before hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. The time off could give guys like Markkanen, Allen, and Osman enough time to work their way back to the floor and make the team more competitive.

With both Sexton and Mobley presumably out for the following month (or more), the Cavs could really use their services in the rematch against the Nets, as well as when they play the equally menacing Phoenix Suns next week.

Despite suffering losses to both teams, Cleveland was actually competitive in those contests, injuries notwithstanding, and there’s little reason to believe that the feistiness will go away. These moral victories should not break their spirit, even if they fall below .500 before the month ends.

The Cavaliers should take this time to regroup, hope to get some of their guys back, and still continue to compete with that same energy. Regardless of who suits up.