Cleveland Cavaliers have lost too many games lately and they've looked nothing like defending NBA champions. They lost two straight games against the Atlanta Hawks, and they blew a double-digit lead in both of these games. Last night, Cleveland started the fourth quarter with a 26-point lead, yet they ended up losing in overtime. They will play on the second night of a back-to-back tonight, as they will face the Miami Heat, another team that beat them twice in a row.
The Cavaliers recalled Key Felder from D-League, which could mean they are planning to use him in the game against the Heat.
Felder is a point guard and he will most likely serve as Deron Williams' backup if the Cavaliers decide to rest their starters. Cleveland had no other reason to recall Felder, and this move indicates they will probably give their best players a night off.
#Cavs recall @2kayzero from @CantonCharge.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 10, 2017
DETAILS: https://t.co/iKttFgnb8t#DefendtheLand pic.twitter.com/36XHEV7TPF
Cavaliers' underachievements could cost them a lot
After beating the Boston Celtics a week ago, it seemed that the Cavaliers are finally back on track and ready to close the regular season out. However, just a game after, they fell to the Atlanta Hawks who missed their entire starting lineup.
Last night, they lost to the Hawks once again, after having one of the worst fourth quarters in the franchise history.
Since they were unable to beat the Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers failed to clinch the first seed in the conference and they are tied with the Celtics once again. LeBron James, the best player on the team, has averaged 43 minutes per game in the last five games, and he played nearly 47 minutes last night.
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined for 86 minutes on the court, and there is no doubt that the trio will be tired against the Heat. Both the Boston Celtics and the Cavaliers have two more games left in the season, and it will be interesting to see which team will claim the top spot.
Miami Heat are looking to win the season series
Miami Heat defeated the Cavaliers twice in a row last month. The first win came in Miami when the Cavaliers rested their stars, and just two days after, the Heat defeated them in Cleveland. With a 2-1 lead over the Cavaliers in the regular season, the Heat are looking to win the season series by beating them once again.
This game will be crucial for Miami as they are currently ninth seed in the conference. If they lose this game, they will most likely be eliminated from playoff contention. They have a big advantage considering that the Cavaliers will be playing on a second night of a back-to-back, but it will still be a challenge to take down the defending NBA champions.