Cavaliers at Pistons
The Cleveland Cavaliers had four full days off to figure out how they went from an impressive win to another disappointing loss as they prepare for a tough stretch. The Cavaliers will go in search of their first road victory when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
Cleveland snapped a five-game slide with a 113-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday as they dominated the glass and controlled the 3-point line, but Wednesday's 119-95 loss at Washington proved that consistency in those two areas is something for which the team is still striving. "We just didn't play well," Cavaliers coach Larry Drew told reporters. "We didn't play with a lot of energy. ... I just didn't think we had a true defensive presence early in the game. All of the things we had built up over the last four or five games, we kind of reverted back to some old habits, which we can't have, particularly on the road." The Pistons got a full four days off as well to deal with the emotional hangover from a 106-104 victory over the Raptors on Wednesday in coach Dwane Casey's return to Toronto. "To have that momentum is great, but we've also got to go back to the drawing board," forward Blake Griffin told reporters. "We've got to work on some stuff and be ready and not let this game not mean anything by going out next time and falling flat."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (2-12): Injuries to several rotation pieces opened up more playing time for rookie point guard Collin Sexton, and he is taking advantage of the situation. Sexton poured in a season-high 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting in Wednesday's loss and is averaging 18.8 points over the last four contests. "He's still a work in progress and he understands that," Drew told reporters of Sexton. "But right now, it really looks like he's got into a rhythm. He's got into a groove as far as his play. Last couple games he's played against two premier point guards and I would say he's held his own. That's a huge sign of growth. Looks like he's in a pretty good rhythm as a starter."
ABOUT THE PISTONS (7-6): Casey used the unusually long break to focus on consistency and defensive intensity. "That’s our challenge," Casey told reporters. "Playing defense and playing hard and playing together is not optional if we’re serious about winning. If we’re not, then we’ll continue to be inconsistent and continue to get inconsistent wins. And I mean that in a positive way because I have all the faith in the world in our talent level, but our consistency has to be there for us to be successful." Detroit held Toronto to 16 points in the fourth quarter as small forward Stanley Johnson turned up the pressure on Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Cavaliers SG Kyle Korver (foot) missed the last two games but is expected to return on Monday.
2. Pistons C Andre Drummond recorded a double-double in five straight games and 11 of the first 13.
3. Drummond collected 26 points and 22 rebounds in a home win over Cleveland on Oct. 25.