Cavs suffer worst loss of the season vs Hornets despite Darius Garland return

Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t capitalize on Darius Garland’s return

The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped two straight games following a lackluster outing against the Charlotte Hornets to lose at home, 119-98. Even with the return of star point guard Darius Garland’s, the Cavs continued on their recent slump, winning just once during the three-game homestand.

Cleveland’s newly-minted All-Star guard picked up where he left off, erupting for 33 points in his first game back from a problematic back since suiting up for Team LeBron in the main event. Unfortunately, the team’s defensive play remained listless in the past two losses.

Trailing by just a single point by the 6:10 the second quarter, the Cavaliers allowed the Hornets to go downhill. By the midway point of the third period, the home team were staring at an imposing 24-point deficit.

Come the final canto, things were just brutal. Following a brief fightback to open the quarter, the Cavs appeared to have just laid down arms and waved the white flag to native of Youngstown, Ohio and long-time Cleveland tormentor Terry Rozier (29 points, seven boards, seven assists) and the Hornets.

Cavs in danger of slipping into Play-in territory

Despite the huge outing from Garland and a double-double effort from his fellow All-Star and  lob target Jarrett Allen, the Cavs got whipped on both ends of the floor, giving up their fifth loss in six games in what had been an erstwhile resurgent season.

The usually stifling defensive team have previously held an impressive feat of holding opponents to an average of 99.2 points per game at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, but have now gave up an average of 123, as well as their biggest loss all-season long.

Even as the team welcomed back a complete starting lineup, they just could not figure it out. The defense will need to pick back up if they are to avoid sliding all the way down to Play-in territory.

Now at fifth place with both the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors lurking close behind, the 36-26 Cleveland Cavaliers will not have it any easier with a visit to face the surging, new-look Philadelphia 76ers next on the calendar (Mar. 4).