Cavs Drop Third Straight as Injuries and Inconsistency Continue to Take a Toll
CLEVELAND - The Cavaliers are in the thick of a December they’d rather forget. Short-handed, outgunned, and searching for answers, Cleveland dropped its third straight game Friday night, falling to the Chicago Bulls, 136-125, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It’s their eighth loss in the last 11 games and yet another reminder of how quickly things can unravel in the NBA when health and rhythm go missing.
Let’s be clear: the Cavs didn’t just lose - they got outplayed by a Bulls team that came into the night with just 12 wins on the season. And two of those have come in the last 48 hours - both against Cleveland. That’s the kind of stat that stings a little more when you’re sitting at 15-14 and clinging to the eighth seed in the East.
To their credit, the Cavs came out swinging. With only 10 players in uniform, they opened the game on an 11-0 run, sparked by first-time starter Tyrese Proctor, who scored six quick points and brought some early energy to a crowd that’s been restless of late.
But that momentum didn’t last long. Chicago responded, tying the game by the midway point of the first quarter.
From there, it was a back-and-forth affair until the Bulls seized control in the second quarter with a 15-5 run that gave them an 11-point lead at the break.
The third quarter brought a spark - and some fire from the fans. As boos rang out midway through the period, the Cavs answered with a 9-0 run that briefly gave them their first lead of the second half.
But like much of this season, the good moments were fleeting. The Bulls quickly regained control, and even though Cleveland dropped 44 points in the quarter, they still trailed by two heading into the fourth.
Darius Garland, doing everything he could to keep his team in it, hit a deep three to tie things up at 115 with six minutes to play. But that was the last time the game was even. Chicago closed the door with a 21-10 run down the stretch, leaving the Cavs - and their fans - frustrated once again.
That frustration isn’t new. This was the fourth time in five games that boos have echoed through the arena. And while no one’s pointing fingers at the fans, the reality is that this team has been decimated by injuries and illness - and it’s showing.
Donovan Mitchell and Craig Porter Jr. were sidelined with illness and didn’t even make it to the building. Evan Mobley, Sam Merrill, Larry Nance Jr., and Max Strus were all out as well.
That’s not just depth - that’s a chunk of the core. Things were so thin that the Cavs had to call up two-way forward Luke Travers from the G League on short notice.
He hopped on a Southwest flight out of Orlando and landed in Cleveland just two hours before tipoff. Travers played five minutes and scored four points - a small but symbolic contribution on a night when the Cavs needed every ounce of help they could find.
Garland led the way with a season-high 35 points, doing everything short of pulling the team across the finish line himself. Proctor added 16 in his first start, while Nae’Qwan Tomlin brought some punch off the bench with 16 of his own. Jarrett Allen (14), De’Andre Hunter (11), and Thomas Bryant (11) also reached double figures, but the collective effort wasn’t enough to slow down Chicago’s balanced attack.
The Bulls had seven players in double figures, led by Nikola Vucevic and Matas Buzelis with 24 apiece. Josh Giddey chipped in a well-rounded performance with 17 points, seven assists, and six boards - the kind of stat line that doesn’t jump off the page but speaks volumes about his impact.
After the game, the mood was somber. Head coach Kenny Atkinson had hinted pregame that things could get worse before they get better, especially with Mitchell and Porter joining the growing injury list. His weather metaphor - more clouds rolling in - felt all too accurate by the final buzzer.
Right now, the Cavs are in the middle of a storm. And while there’s still time to steady the ship, they’ll need health, cohesion, and a little bit of luck to turn things around.
They’ll get a brief breather this weekend before hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. And with the way things are trending, that game may be less about standings and more about finding some much-needed stability.