The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a close one.
Given that the Houston Rockets led for most of the game, it seemed unlikely that the Cavs would win.
That’s why, as tough as the loss was, Austin Carr still liked what he saw from the team.
Following the defeat, the former Cavs player took to X to praise the Cavs for making it a close game and coming all the way back to almost win it.
Cavs come all way back, had chance to Win, they fell little short, on to Philly and opportunity to get a Win. GOOD night and stay safe and Warm
— Austin Carr (@MrCavalier34) January 23, 2025
Of course, losing a game you could’ve won is always tough, but that wasn’t the biggest takeaway one should get from this game.
If anything, the Cavs had no business making it a close one.
They were down three key rotation players, including their leading scorer off the bench and best defender.
They didn’t have much of an edge on the glass without Evan Mobley, especially when they were playing against the best rebounding team in the league.
And even despite all that, they still had a chance to win it from the free-throw line.
Perhaps some fans would have rather seen the team lose with a missed shot and not with two missed free throws, but the fact that they were in a position to win that game in the first place speaks volumes about their resilience and adaptability.
They’re a dangerous defensive team when they lock down, and they held the Rockets to just 15 points in the fourth quarter.
It’s very hard to win on the road, and losing by one away from home against the second-best team in the West isn’t a bad loss.
NEXT: Cavs Are Making NBA History With Recent Three-Point Streak
