The Cleveland Cavaliers are still at the top, but they lost a close one.
Despite being severely undermanned and on the road, they took the No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets down to the wire.
Unfortunately, Darius Garland, a 90% free-throw shooter, missed two from the charity stripe, and the Cavs lost the game by one.
Needless to say, most fans weren’t happy about that.
Final. @betwayusa | #LetEmKnow
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 23, 2025
Following the loss, several of them took to social media to criticize Garland, while others criticized the officials and the Rockets for their physicality and for seemingly missing several calls.
Yall better be on the phone with the league office tomorrow demanding to know why Senguin shoving Allen isn't at least a foul. Should've been a tech.
— Dan (@MakeItClassy) January 23, 2025
DG just didn't have it tonight and no Mobley and the refs in @HoustonRockets back pocket and @cavs still should have won. Hey @nba are you and your refs going to let Sengoon and @HoustonRockets thug it up on Saturday, too?
— Jim Kohler (@jak2931) January 23, 2025
That was one of the worst chokes I’ve ever witnessed, but I can’t even be mad, we are literally still 36-7 on the season, I couldn’t ask for anymore than that at this point, No Mobley today and we still brought it to 1 point against one of the best West teams🫣
— ⚡️ ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕖 ⚡️ (@Chargers_Zone) January 23, 2025
It’s easy to blame Garland for the loss, and he should’ve knocked down his free throws.
However, he was also the team’s leading scorer, scoring 26 points, including three three-pointers, five assists, and three steals.
Donovan Mitchell struggled with the Rockets’ physicality and was just 7-21 from the floor.
He’s really struggling against defenders bodying him up and denying him the basketball, with Dillon Brooks and the Rockets taking a page from Lu Dort’s book.
That should be a concern going forward.
As for the game itself, it wasn’t as bad a loss as some fans make it seem.
They were without their best defender and second-best rebounder, Evan Mobley.
Caris LeVert, their leading scorer off the bench, was also out.
Being in a position to win that game and playing the kind of defense they played down the stretch is an encouraging sign for this team.
They’re still the best team in the league, but they won’t win all the games.
NEXT: Austin Carr Sends Message To Cavs Fans After Loss To Rockets
