CLEVELAND, Ohio — Guess the Cavs didn’t get their mojo back.
About 24 hours after a come-from-behind win, the undermanned Cavs couldn’t repeat it Saturday night, losing to the equally depleted Golden State Warriors, 99-94, inside Rocket Arena. It’s Cleveland’s fifth loss in the last seven games.
Playing their fifth game in seven nights, after expending so much energy rallying one night earlier against San Antonio, the Cavs got off to a horrendous start.
Both teams did.
That hideous first half mercifully came to a close with the frigid Cavs trailing 45-36 — a more respectable deficit thanks to Donovan Mitchell’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter.
In the first 24 minutes, Cleveland shot just 14 of 52 (26.9%) from the field and 3 of 21 (14.3%) from 3-point range.
It didn’t get much better in the second half.
After the Warriors built a game-high 14-point lead at the 4:04 mark of the third quarter, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson angrily called timeout. As the team slowly walked back to the bench, they were greeted with boisterous boos — the second time in the last three games they have been heckled at home.
Despite clearly not being at their best, the Cavs kept battling. They pulled within six at the 10:21 mark. About two minutes later, it was a one-possession game, temporarily turning those jeers into roars.
But Warriors two-way guard Pat Spencer went on a personal 8-0 run to increase the Golden State lead back to 11 points midway through the fourth quarter. Following his third bucket in that gutsy stretch, the animated Spencer stood near center court, pounded his chest multiple times and yelled toward the crowd, as the Cavs signaled for another timeout to regroup.
They did, trimming the Golden State advantage to just six with 3:11 left. It was a three-point game with under two minutes remaining.
The Cavs had a few more chances to pull closer in the final seconds.
Point guard Darius Garland split a pair of free throws with 20.9 left, making the margin two. Then Golden State reserve Gui Santos made one of two from the stripe, giving Cleveland the shot it wanted.
Following a timeout in which Atkinson drew up a play for Mitchell, the inbounds pass found the Cavaliers’ streaking star in front of the team’s bench.
He gathered and hoisted a high-arching triple that bounced off the rim.
No comeback this time.
So much for that joy they supposedly found the last few days. Mitchell was left dejectedly walking off the court.
Again.
His game-high 29 points weren’t enough. Evan Mobley added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Garland chipped in with 17.
The plucky Warriors were led by Spencer who finished with 19 points. Santos tallied 14. Buddy Hield had 13.
Given the deep-rooted ties between these two organizations -- no longer just because of their Finals history -- Cavs-Warriors is basically the Spider-Man meme.
Atkinson, a Steve Kerr protege. Elements of Cleveland’s system taken from those days in Golden State. And, on Saturday night, two teams nowhere close to full strength.
The Cavs were without six regulars — Lonzo Ball (injury management), Jarrett Allen (strained finger), Larry Nance Jr. (calf strain), Sam Merrill (right hand sprain), Max Strus (foot surgery) and Tyrese Proctor (personal reasons).
Golden State didn’t have Stephen Curry (quad contusion), Jimmy Butler (injury management), Draymond Green (foot sprain), Seth Curry (toe soreness) or De’Anthony Melton (injury management).
It was ugly. It was low scoring. It felt like a game from a different era.
The teacher got the best of the student.
**Up next**
The Cavs will have nearly a week off before returning to game action, traveling to Washington D.C. for a matchup with the Wizards on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.