Cavaliers continue skid after stumbling against the Pistons late

Cleveland Cavaliers drop three straight games

The Cleveland Cavaliers could not capitalize from hosting a momentous All-Star Weekend, falling in a close contest to the Detroit Pistons, 106-103. Playing without starting point Darius Garland, as well as Caris LeVert, the Cavs came up just short on the road against their upstart division rivals.

Lauri Markkanen, who had missed 11 straight games due to an ankle injury, came to answer the call with 22 points to lead all Cavaliers players in scoring. He did, however, miss a crucial free throw toward the final buzzer that would have put them up by two points with a minute remaining on the clock.

Without their newly-minted All-Star in Garland leading the charge, the Cavs made several costly errors that ultimately cost them the game late. The most crucial one came when their other All-Star Jarrett Allen (11 points, eight rebounds) lost the ball on a shot attempt with 28 seconds remaining.

In what had been a neck-and-neck affair throughout the night, it took four consecutive free throws from Cade Cunningham within the final minute to lead them to the finish line. Detroit’s top overall pick finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Hamidou Diallo led all scorers with 21 markers in the Pistons’ win.

Cavs continue to figure in a tight playoff race

After their third consecutive defeat, the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to 35-24, back down to fifth place in a highly suffocating Eastern Conference playoff race, perhaps one of the closest races ever in league history.

The Cavs are still in a great position to win homecourt advantage for the opening round of the postseason being half a game behind third placers Philadelphia 76ers, as well as being only 3.5 games behind the conference-leading Chicago Bulls, but will need to settle back into rhythm from hereon.

Markkanen’s return will surely give Cleveland a boost offensively, but being without both LeVert (ankle) and Garland (back) will put a damper on the squad reaching their full potential. The team has especially faltered without Garland, going 6-6 in games played without the 22-year-old floor general.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will return home to host the Washington Wizards on February 26, opening a three-game homestand that will also see bouts with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Charlotte Hornets to open the pivotal month of March.