Deflated Cavs fall in Washington for second straight loss

Shorthanded Cavs fall anew

A depleted Cleveland Cavaliers team failed to keep up with the Washington Wizards to drop their second straight game on the road, 110-93. With many of the key rotation players out, the Cavs simply couldn’t match their opponents offensively.

Without two of the best playmakers and their defensive anchor on the roster, Cleveland had little choice but to move rookie Evan Mobley to the middle and start veteran forward Kevin Love at power forward.

Both players remained sensational with Love matching his scoring output of 24 points to go with 11 boards in his second game back as a starter, while Mobley also continued to stay hot offensively with 20 markers.

But being without both Darius Garland (health and safety protocols) and now Ricky Rubio, who suffered an unfortunate season-ending knee injury against the Pelicans, Cleveland struggled to run the offense that gave them much success thus far into the season.

A lopsided 16-2 run during the middle of the match allowed the Wizards to pull away as Bradley Beal starred for Washington, finishing with 29 points and 10 assists while Kyle Kuzma added 25 in the win.

The Cavs need to figure it out fast

With Garland still out due to COVID protocols, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had to insert seldom-used Kevin Pangos into the starting line-up. The Euroleague veteran did a decent job running the point but struggled to hit his shots and was outmatched on defense.

Having two of their best guards in Rubio and Collin Sexton out for the remainder of the season, the Cavs have been actively seeking help, and are reportedly already in talks to acquire veteran floor general Rajon Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now 20-15, the Cavs remain very much alive in the hunt for a playoff spot but are now walking on thin ice in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference. The team will benefit greatly from the return of Garland, Jarrett Allen, or Cedi Osman and help quickly arrest this skid.

The Cavs will look to end the year on a positive note when they face off against the Atlanta Hawks in Cleveland on New Year’s Eve.