HOUSTON — Nearly two hours before tipoff the news was revealed — the kind that seemed favorable to the enigmatic Cavs.
Rockets center Alperen Sengun, historically a burly thorn in Cleveland’s side, was ruled out because of a calf injury.
“The job doesn’t get any easier,” a Cavs player rebutted to cleveland.com.
He was right.
Cleveland got blasted by the Rockets, 117-100, on Saturday night inside Toyota Center. It’s the Cavaliers’ second straight loss. They are now 17-16 this season.
“We weren’t ready for the fight tonight,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said following the loss. “Call it what you want. Christmas hangover? I have no idea. It wasn’t the same team that played the other night against the Knicks. They manhandled us physically and I didn’t like our response.”
Sengun leads Houston in rebounding and assists. He is the second leading scorer. Nearly had a triple-double in the first meeting between the two teams in Cleveland — also a Houston W.
On Saturday night, the Rockets didn’t need him.
Three lead changes. Two ties. A game-high 31-point lead. Nearly 48 minutes of Houston dominance, making the cap-strapped Cavs look anything but like a title contender — something they keep claiming to be.
“It’s tough. It’s a concern factor,” Donovan Mitchell admitted. “It’s the how. It’s not the loss. It’s the how. We have to figure it out.”
Early Saturday morning at shootaround, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson revealed a specific number to his team.
Twenty-six.
As in Cleveland’s defensive rating over the last 10 games. No matter the circumstances, it’s an unacceptable mark for a team that views defense as its backbone.
About nine hours later, the Cavs gave up 32 first-quarter points. By the end of the first half, Houston had poured in 60, taking a 14-point advantage into the locker room.
The long, athletic and grimy Rockets opened the third quarter on a 6-2 surge, going in front by 18, the biggest lead of the night to that point. That advantage increased to 24 around the five-minute mark — right about the time an irate Atkinson picked up a technical foul for expressing his displeasure with referee Marc Davis.
That outburst didn’t help. Nothing did.
“I rarely say this, but I thought the game was over in the first quarter,” Atkinson said pointedly. “These kinds of performances happen in the NBA. But I’ve gotta be honest, I didn’t like how it happened.”
December is almost over. Can’t use the justification of it being early anymore.
Evan Mobley is back — albeit on a minute restriction that had him coming off the bench for a second straight game. Sam Merrill is back too, playing his fourth straight game following a one-month hiatus. Darius Garland, listed as probable going into the game after missing shootaround because of an illness, was able to suit up and log 24 minutes.
Saturday was the shortest injury report Cleveland had all season, with only Max Strus (offseason foot surgery), Larry Nance Jr. (calf strain) and Nae’Qwan Tomlin (G League two-way) the only expected regulars out of the lineup.
Can’t use the undermanned defense anymore either.
“The word is disappointing,” Mitchell said when asked to characterize the latest blowout defeat. “We didn’t match the fight. Everybody besides Jaylon Tyson, Tyrese Proctor, Thomas Bryant, Craig Porter, those four guys did. We didn’t. Can’t be the case.”
Houston swingman Kevin Durant, the team’s offseason prize that changed the franchise’s trajectory, tallied a game-high 30 points on 11 of 17 shooting to go with seven assists and four rebounds in 29 minutes. Durant didn’t even see the floor in the fourth quarter. Only two Rockets starters did — Amen Thompson and Tari Eason.
Thompson chipped in with 13 points and nine rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. had 15 points and seven boards while young guard Reed Sheppard finished with 18 points and eight assists in 32 productive minutes off the bench.
The Cavs were led by Jaylon Tyson who had 23 points and 14 rebounds in a reserve role. Mitchell scored just 16 points. Garland mustered 12 to go with one assist against three turnovers.
“Jaylon was the beacon tonight,” Atkinson said. “That’s how you have to play. He was ready for the fight. He was ready for the physicality. He was ready for the game. I highlighted him after the game. I said, ‘That’s what we needed across the board, and we didn’t get it.’”
Saturday was the beginning of a challenging — and perhaps season-shaping — stretch, as seven of the next eight games come against quality opponents with an above-.500 record.
Call it a measuring stick.
At this point, the Cavs don’t look like they stack up.
“We’ve got to love the challenge, we’ve got to embrace the challenge,” Mitchell said. “If we’re not then tonight will happen again.”
Up next
The Cavs will continue this road trip with a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.