Cavs outmuscled, outhustled in spiritless loss to Raptors

Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 126-113 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Thursday.

1. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson sat at his postgame press conference and held one hand up high, another down low. “Their energy level was here (the high hand), and we were down here (the other hand).”

2. That about sums it up.

3. Atkinson went on to say that the Raptors “were just quicker, faster,” that the Cavs “just did not have the juice,” and that the Cavs were “stuck in mud.”

4. Again, no argument here.

5. The Cavs (8-5) were playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Or at least many of them were. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley actually sat out of Wednesday’s impressive win down in Miami. Yet they were two of the guys who didn’t have it. Not like they normally do, anyway.

6. Mitchell did finish with 31 points, and he tried at times to take over. But he finished just 7-of-18 shooting, including 2-of-9 on 3-pointers. 

7. Meanwhile, Mobley attempted a mere seven shots, finishing with seven points, well below his average (20.1 ppg). For a little context, rookie second-round pick Tyrese Proctor attempted eight shots.

8. More Atkinson: “I think Evan was part of the group that didn’t have the highest energy, right? It wasn’t just him. It was collective. But we can do a better job of getting him the ball.”

9. I’ll be honest, I rarely worry about anything at this time of year. I mean, I might worry if the Cavs were 2-11 or something. But we should never forget that the Indiana Pacers started 11-15 last year. And then came within a game of winning the title.

10. As for this night, Atkinson hit the nail on the head. “I wish we’d been a little mentally stronger,” he said. “You gotta fight through the schedule. … It happens in this league.”

11. Then he brought up another valid point. “Good news is we have a day off tomorrow to recover, and a nice stretch at home,” he added.

12. He’s right. The Cavs have five more in a row at home, with no back-to-backs. Though all five come with just one day in between.

13. Two-way big man Nae’Qwan Tomlin offered a fine showing with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting. He was also incredibly active around the basket. Tomlin is playing himself into more minutes, that’s for sure. 

14. De’Andre Hunter added 16 points and Sam Merrill scored 12. Jarrett Allen looked a little worn down, scoring just six (with eight rebounds), one night after erupting for 30.

15. No matter how you spin it, though, this team misses Darius Garland (toe) and even Jaylon Tyson (concussion). After the game, Atkinson called Garland “day-to-day.” He referred to Tyson’s status as “to be determined.”

16. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors (7-5) with 28 points, and Immanuel Quickley broke down the Cavs with 25 of his own. Quickley went 10-of-13 from the field. Toronto is now 2-0 against the Cavs, with both games coming in Cleveland.

17. Atkinson added that the Cavs “gotta be physically better.” That too is right on. They get another shot Saturday, when they host the struggling Memphis Grizzlies. That one tips off at 5 p.m.