Cavs suffer heartbreaking loss at home against Grizzlies

Cavs drop a close one at home

The Cleveland Cavaliers will not be able to carry a win-streak into their upcoming road trip after losing a tight one against the Memphis Grizzlies at home. Despite being in it at the end, the Cavs came up just short to lose, 110-106.

After Evan Mobley tied the game for the Cavs at 104-apiece with 36.7 seconds remaining, Grizzlies All-Star guard Ja Morant quickly scored the last four of his 26 points to put the game essentially out of reach. There had been 11 lead changes and just as many ties during the tightly-contested game.

In his first game back, Darius Garland made an immediate impact for Cleveland, leading all scorers with 27 points to go with 10 assists while favorite lob target Jarrett Allen finished with his own double-double of 22 and 12.

Five-time All-Star Kevin Love also continued to display vintage form, adding 18 markers and 10 boards off the bench. Mobley and Lauri Markkanen added a combined 30 for Tower City in the loss.

Another tough road trip ahead for the Cavs

Despite losing four of their previous five contests, Cleveland remains very much in the hunt for a postseason berth, but things can quickly go sour from hereon.

Now with a 21-17 record, the Cavaliers should find a way to secure a couple of victories even as they play the next six games on the road, with several against potential play-in/playoff contenders.

Apart from Isaac Okoro (elbow sprain) most of the rotation players are have made a return to the lineup, giving the Cavs a healthy chance to return from the trip with their winning record still intact.

Cleveland also awaits the arrival of newly-acquired veteran floor general Rajon Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers, a player that is expected to immediately fill in the injured Ricky Rubio’s spot and help Garland run the offense that gave the team much success this season.

As the Cavaliers set to embark on another lengthy and arduous journey out west, they will start with relatively lighter competition in a visit to the Pacific Northwest to face a struggling Portland Trail Blazers team on January 7.