On February 25, Beijing time, the Cavaliers suffered a three-game losing streak to the Pistons 103-106, and the first game after the All-Star Game against the Eastern Vice President Pistons lost. In this game, the Cavaliers led by 6 points in the first quarter, 3 points in the half, and 2 points in the third quarter, but the final quarter was hit by the Pistons in a 20-9 climax and fell into the downwind, although the Cavaliers once equalized the score and was overtaken, but the key moments were twice fouled to send Cunningham 4 free throws, and Yuanlang hit steadily to complete the reversal.
The Cavaliers suffered another injury attack before this game, With Caris Leville spraining his right ankle and will miss out for 1-2 weeks; All-Star point guard Garland is absent from this game due to back pain, and will be treated and rehabilitated in the next 1-2, and his return date is still undecided. The Cavaliers' only three backcourts left were Rondo, Okoro and Goodwin, and they were caught in the previous predicament.
Pistons bench McGrud hit two three-pointers in a row in the final quarter, Barkley came on for 4 consecutive points in a minute, Grant also hit a three-pointer, and the Cavaliers relied on Markkanen to support himself, although he scored 10 points alone, he could not withstand the Pistons' more blossoms, and finally the Eastern Vice President Pistons completed the reversal, the Cavaliers were reversed by the Eastern Vice President at one point, and the Cavaliers also fell to the fifth place in the East.
However, the Cavaliers also had bright spots in this campaign, Markkanen, who was absent from an ankle sprain on January 23, was in hot form after a 33-day break, 4 of 7 in the final quarter, 4 of 4 on three points, 11 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block, 6 of 15 in the game, 6 of 6 on three points, 7 of 8 on free throws, 22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block, and the last time he scored 20+ was back on January 20. The only thing worth criticizing was two free throws and one shot in 1 minute and 1 second before the final.
Marvin Bagley, who was traded to the Pistons by the Kings, also performed well, feeling that after the change of team, he became more proactive, and he protected the key rebound 1 minute and 50 seconds before the final game, but unfortunately Joseph failed to hit the middle distance that ended the game, and if Joseph hit the middle distance, Okoro did not equalize the three-pointer. Bagley played 27 minutes off the bench, 8-of-13, with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block, shooting 61.5 percent from the field.
Pistons Canningan still didn't feel good, 31 minutes in the game, 4 of 16, 4 of 4 three-pointers, 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks, shooting a pitiful 25%, but he hit 46 seconds before the final and 4 free throws in the 28 seconds before the final game, helping the team win a difficult victory.
Text/Yan Xiaobai