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Cavaliers throw in the towel in blowout loss vs. Hawks

By Justin Taguibao

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 31: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 31: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers slide further from a guaranteed playoff spot

The Cleveland Cavaliers hoisted the white flag quite early in a disconcerting 131-107 blowout to the Atlanta Hawks on the road. Playing without two of their best defenders on the floor really hurt the Cavs, who have now lost five of their last six games.

Things went awry very quickly for Cleveland, who never even got a taste of the lead at any point in the ball game. The awful play and ballooning deficit prompted head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to pull the starters early–none of whom tallied more than 30 minutes of play–in favor of giving the reserves some burn.

Cedi Osman, who has fallen out of the regular rotation as of late, led all Cavs in scoring with 21 markers off shooting from the field in an inconsequential effort that resulted in crucial back-to-back losses.

The once daunting Cavaliers defense made a complete 180-degree turn without injured All-Star center Jarrett Allen and rising star Evan Mobley, figuratively waving the white flag against Trey Young (30 points and nine assists) and the Hawks who built a lead that grew to as much as 33.

Guaranteed playoff seed slipping away from the Cavs

Cleveland ended the month of March with an awful 6-11 record, and while the team remains in seventh place with a 42-35 card, they are now three full games behind the Chicago Bulls and 2.5 back from the Toronto Raptors for the fifth and sixth spots in the Eastern Conference.

No time to celebrate their first winning record post-second LeBron James era, as the team treads the path that leads directly to the play-in tournament instead of a guaranteed playoff spot that comes with one of the top six seeds.

Make no mistake, the young Cavs securing a ticket to the play-in tournament should still be considered an overachievement by the low standards set during the previous years, but a looming one-off matchup with the dangerous Brooklyn Nets could send their postseason aspirations crashing fast.

The Cleveland Cavaliers continue on the road to face the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden on April 2.

dark. Next. The Cavaliers may need Jarrett Allen if they want to stay out of the play-in

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