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Cavs’ 12-Game Winning Streak Snapped: Breaking Down the Loss to the Pacers
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ impressive 12-game winning streak came to an end on Sunday night as they fell to the Indiana Pacers 108-93 at home. This loss, dropping the Cavs to a still-impressive 33-5 record, was arguably their worst performance of the season so far.
Offensively, the Cavs struggled to find their rhythm, particularly in the face of the Pacers’ aggressive full-court press. Indiana’s strategy of applying pressure for 94 feet disrupted Cleveland’s usual offensive flow, forcing them into rushed decisions and careless turnovers. The third quarter was especially problematic, with seven turnovers leading directly to 12 Pacers points.
Despite the pressure, the Cavs still managed to generate decent looks. However, shots simply weren’t falling. The team posted their worst three-point shooting percentage of the season, connecting on just 26% of their attempts from beyond the arc. This off-night resulted in the Cavs’ lowest offensive rating of the season at 94.9 points per 100 possessions, even lower than their previous worst performance against Atlanta earlier in the year.
While the offensive struggles were significant, head coach Kenny Atkinson seemed more concerned about the team’s defensive effort, particularly in the second half. After holding Indiana to just 40 points in the first half, the Cavs allowed the Pacers to explode for 68 points on 61% shooting after the break. The lack of transition defense was especially problematic, allowing Indiana to thrive in their preferred up-tempo style.
The loss provides an opportunity for the Cavs to demonstrate their resilience and ability to make adjustments. With another matchup against the Pacers looming on Tuesday in Indianapolis, all eyes will be on how Atkinson and his staff counter the defensive pressure that disrupted their offense and whether they can tighten up their own defensive effort.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Cavs’ loss and upcoming rematch with the Pacers, tune into the Locked On Cavs podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Cavs Podcast:
• Detailed breakdown of the Pacers’ defensive strategy
• Analysis of the Cavs’ offensive struggles and missed shots
• Discussion on the importance of maintaining defensive effort when shots aren’t falling
Monday movers: Isaiah Collier and the resilient Pistons
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) lays the ball up against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Delta Center. | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Isaiah Collier
If you thought tracking incremental improvements was just for teams, think again. Jazz rookie Isaiah Collier had himself a game on Sunday, with a career-high 23 points, seven rebounds and assists, plus a block, in 37 minutes on the floor. It was Collier’s longest sustained playing time this season.
I covered Collier over his McDonald’s All-American weekend in April 2023. As a USC signee he was in the shadow of Bronny James, also in the same “McDAAG” class. Collier was quiet, polite, and a little shy off the floor, on the floor, all those traits inverted. When I’ve circled around to check on how Collier’s been doing this season I haven’t been surprised to see him taking a secondary role. Sometimes the best thing for a rookie is to have a working balance between competitive pressure and developing at their own pace. What I have been surprised by is how much Collier, up to now, has been flying under the radar.
He had a sixth-sense for the game in high school, in his knack for passing, knowing where teammates would be, and dictating the pace of the game — a rarer thing for a young athlete. It showed it again in his single season at USC. The Jazz don’t necessarily want Collier to be the one deploying these things, they have Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and Keyonte George as a backup for them, but when Collier’s been trusted by the team to handle the ball it’s paid dividends.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Feel Good Cavaliers veteran Max Strus shared what makes the team so special, emphasizing camaraderie and collective spirit as the driving forces behind their cohesion and success. (Sports Illustrated)
Trade Bleacher Report looks at one trade each team should make. So who should the Cavs target?
Ranking The Cavaliers’ player contracts were evaluated among the best and worst value in the NBA, providing insights into financial efficiency and player performance ratios. (Bleacher Report)
Watch Roundball Rock is (almost) back. Giannis, Jayson Tatum, and Wemby star in NBC’s NBA promo. (NBC Sports)
Analysis Amid struggles, what’s the end game for the Suns? (NBA.com)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Waiver Wire Wisdom: Navigating Fantasy Basketball’s Ever-Changing Landscape
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) passes the ball away from Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) during the first quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
As we dive into Week 13 of the NBA season, it’s crucial to approach your fantasy basketball strategy with a keen eye on both the present and the future. The key is to play for the short term while keeping long-term potential in mind.
Donovan Clingan is an interesting addition. With Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams out, Clingan started and showed promise. However, his value may be limited when Ayton returns. This could be an opportunity to sell high on Clingan if you believe his current performance isn’t sustainable.
Noah Clowney and Nikola Jovic are two players with more long-term value. Clowney’s minutes may fluctuate, but he’s worth rostering for potential future gains. Jovic, despite coming off the bench, has shown promise and could see consistent minutes moving forward.
Click the button below to see which under-rostered players need to find their way onto your team.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Cavs podcasts.
DG’s 40-ball The Cavs pushed their winning streak to 12 games on Thursday night thanks to Darius Garland dropping 40 points on the Toronto Raptors.
Showcase Win over OKC Cleveland took on Oklahoma City on Wednesday night and came away with the best win of the NBA season. How far can this Cavs team go?
Snapped! The Cavs saw their winning streak snapped on Sunday night by the Pacers. What went wrong?
