Can the Cleveland Cavaliers snap out of two-game funk vs. Kings in Sacramento?
For just the third time this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have lost back-to-back games. They will have the opportunity to right the ship on Wednesday night in Sacramento, but will be without Darius Garland.
Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and the Los Angeles Clippers handed the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers their second straight loss, 132-119 on Tuesday night.
Ivica Zubac had 28 points and 20 rebounds and James Harden added 22 points and nine assists in the Clippers’ fourth straight victory.
Max Strus scored a season-high 24 points for the Cavs, whose 16-game winning streak ended Sunday against Orlando. Their NBA-best road record dropped to 26-7 after they led by 12 in a 45-point first quarter.
Donovan Mitchell had 18 points and 11 assists and Evan Mobley scored 17 points in his return from a one-game absence with a foot contusion.
Takeaways
Cavaliers: Despite losing two in a row for the first time since Jan. 22-25 when they dropped three straight, they still have a comfortable lead in the East with less a month left in the regular season.
Clippers: Playing without injured coach Tyronn Lue for the fourth time recently, they clawed back from a 12-point deficit early to pull off one of their biggest wins of the season. They’ll need that kind of scrappy mindset to hang on to a playoff spot.
Key moment
The Clippers put together a 20-3 run over the end of the third and start of the fourth, turning a one-point back-and-forth into a 12-point lead in the final quarter. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored seven in the spurt and finished with 20 points off the bench.
Key stat
The Clippers controlled the boards, 49-29, and the Cavs were 17 of 26 from the free-throw line.
Up next
The Cavaliers visit Sacramento on Wednesday to finish a back-to-back. The Clippers host Memphis on Friday.
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6 Comments
Defense is slipping, wont win a ship playing this soft defense
Cavs are a flawed team, never going to win the championship
Two soft big men, garland, strus.
Frauds and imposters. They’ll lose to the magic in the first round in 7.
Yes it's a slump and no, they can't snap out of it.
3 straight