The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to battle with the Brooklyn Nets, but were unable to snap their four-game losing streak.
At one point Monday night the Cleveland Cavaliers held a 12-point lead over the Brooklyn Nets and it appeared the upstart Cavs were going to come away with a win. Midway through the 3rd quarter Darius Garland left the game due to an injury and that is when the game flipped. By the time Garland returned nearly six minutes later Cleveland held just a one-point lead. When the 3rd quarter ended the Cavs were trailing 84-82. That stretch that Garland was absent in the 3rd quarter gave Brooklyn the opportunity to seize the momentum and seize it they did.
The Nets outscored Cleveland 32-19 in the 3rd and 33-30 in the 4th. That was just enough for the Nets to hand the Cavaliers a 117-12 loss, their fourth-straight and fifth in their last seven games.
Even though Garland exited the game for a time, he still led the Cavaliers in scoring with 24 points. Garland did not shoot well, making just nine of 27 field goals and two of 10 attempts from three-point range while also finishing with a. team-high 11 assists.
Lauri Markkanen came through with a surprising performance, scoring 22 points on 7-17 shooting night including 3-9 from deep. Jarrett Allen also was a major factor, scoring 20 points and grabbing a game-high 15 boards.
If there is one thing that everyone has learned this season it is that Ricky Rubio can be an excellent option off the bench. Rubio continued his hot start with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one block in 29 minutes.
The last Cavaliers scorer of note was Isaac Okoro. Okoro is not the most proficient scoring option, but getting 15 points on 4-9 from the field (3-7 3PT) and making all four free throw attempts.
