What once seemed like a can’t-miss team struggled to buy buckets, with only Darius Garland and Evan Mobley showing any consistency.

Donovan Mitchell, typically the team’s offensive heartbeat, missed his first nine shots and never found his rhythm. Garland and Mobley combined to score 34 of Cleveland’s 50 points in the first half, while the rest of the roster managed just 16.

Garland finished with 29 points, including five triples and five assists. Mobley added 24 points and 12 rebounds. Mitchell finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists while shooting 5 of 23 from the field.

The Cavs’ inefficiency defined the game, as they shot an abysmal 40.9% from the floor and 28.9% from three-point range. The Hawks, on the other hand, executed with precision, shooting 51.8% from the field and 41.2% from deep.

The Cavs’ emphasized defensive rotations repeatedly betrayed them. Too much help on drives left Atlanta’s shooters open in the corners, a glaring problem that the Hawks exploited with backbreaking three-pointers.

Caris LeVert returned after a four-game absence due to a left knee injury and provided a much-needed spark by scoring all eight points in the third quarter. His efforts temporarily reduced the deficit, but the Hawks were ruthless, scoring 39 points in the period and extending their lead to 18 heading into the final frame.

The Cavs’ bench, a key part of their early-season success, was nonexistent, contributing just 28 points compared to Atlanta’s 50.

Adding insult to injury was another standout performance from De’Andre Hunter, who scored his second consecutive 20-point game against the Cavs. A player who Cleveland may view as a potential trade target showed exactly why he could be valuable – but this time he did it at their expense.

The Cavs, who seemingly came in ahead of the interior in size and strength with Jarrett Allen and Mobley, were outrebounded 53-40.

This was the first example of back-to-back losses for the Cavaliers this season, dropping them to 17-3. While still an impressive record, back-to-back losses against a team they are expected to surpass exposed cracks in the approach on both ends of the floor. Their reliance on isolation scoring and defensive over-rotation have emerged as risks against well-prepared opponents.

Next

The Cavs welcome the Boston Celtics, who have the second-best record in the NBA, to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse as they hope to bounce back Sunday night. Tipoff airs on NBA TV at 6 PM Eastern.