Hawks at Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers will hit the reset button after firing head coach Tyronn Lue when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Lue was let go after the team fell to 0-6 with Saturday's 119-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers and the organization handed the reins -- for now -- to Larry Drew as it tries to snap out of a horrendous early-season spell.
"This was a very difficult decision. It is especially so, considering Coach Lue's time with us over the last four years, including four straight trips to the NBA Finals," general manager Koby Altman said in a statement. "We have respect and great admiration for Ty, not only as a coach, but a person. ... This is a different team equation, though, and one that we felt needed a different voice and approach that required this change." Among Cleveland's six straight losses to begin the season was a 133-111 loss at home to Atlanta on Oct. 21, a game in which Hawks rookie Trae Young went off for 35 points and 11 assists. The offensive firepower Atlanta displayed in that contest has faded, as the squad has averaged 88.5 points during a two-game losing streak. Young was limited to a season-low 11 points in Monday's 113-92 loss at Philadelphia.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (2-4): Young is averaging 13.7 points while shooting 11-for-37 from the field in three games since his dominant performance at Cleveland. The 20-year-old did hand out eight assists with zero turnovers versus the 76ers after recording nine and 10, respectively, over the previous two contests. Taurean Prince averaged 21.8 points through the first four games but has been held to a total of 21 points on 6-of-25 from the field during the two-game losing streak.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (0-6): Kevin Love, Cleveland's leader in scoring (19 points per game) and rebounding (13.5) has missed two straight games due to a sore left foot and reports that surfaced Monday suggested the five-time All-Star may sit for more than a month. Channing Frye and Sam Dekker have been given one start apiece in place of Love, combining for just 11 points and nine rebounds in those two games. Larry Nance Jr. has been coming on of late after missing the first two games due to a sprained ankle, and the 25-year-old produced 15 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in just 23 minutes off the bench against Indiana.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Drew led the Cavaliers to an 8-1 record as interim coach last season when Lue was out due to a medical issue. He told reporters Monday he is not the team's interim coach but merely "the voice right now" and that he is not making any long-term commitment until an agreement is reached with the team.
2. Young hit 6-of-14 3-pointers in the previous visit to Cleveland, but he's 2-for-15 since then.
3. Cleveland PG Jordan Clarkson is averaging 16.2 points in 22.3 minutes off the bench.