Cavaliers score vs Atlanta Hawks | Cleveland loses first home game of 2024-25 season

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Cavaliers score vs Atlanta Hawks | Cleveland loses first home game of 2024-25 season

Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Thu, Nov 28, 2024 ·

8 min read

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CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers lost the first of their two consecutive games against the Atlanta Hawks sandwiched around Thanksgiving.

By falling 135-124 on Wednesday night, the Cavs suffered their first home loss this season. They are now 10-1 in Cleveland .

The second game between the Cavs (17-2) and Hawks (8-11) will be Friday afternoon in Emirates NBA Cup group play in Atlanta.

Here is how the pre-turkey showdown between the two teams unfolded through our updates.

Nov 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) celebrates his three-point basket in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Cavs fall 135-124 to Atlanta Hawks . Cleveland loses its first home game of the 2024-25 season

With the Cavs behind by seven points, Cleveland guard Ty Jerome recorded a steal against Hawks guard Trae Young and made a 3-pointer with 1:43 left to play, cutting Cleveland's deficit to 126-122.

Jerome nearly had another steal off Young, but instead of losing the ball, Young regrouped and made a deep 3-pointer at the top of the key. The nearly 39-foot shot gave the Hawks a 129-122 lead with 1:23 remaining, and the Cavs couldn't catch up.

Although the Hawks have a losing record, they have taken down other high-caliber Eastern Conference teams this season, beating the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics and New York Knicks . The Cavs didn't want to join the list, but they're on it now.

Guard Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with a game-high 30 points, followed by forward Evan Mobley 's 22 and point guard Darius Garland 's 19.

Forward De'Andre Hunter came off the bench to lead Atlanta with 26 points. Forward Jalen Johnson had 22 points. Young scored 20 points and fell one assist shy of tying a Hawks franchise with 22 assists.

After the game, Mitchell lamented Cleveland's defensive effort not being at the level it needed to be.

"It was just easy [for the Hawks]," Mitchell said. "It wasn't physical enough. Our switches weren't physical like they have been. These games are going to happen, but it's just how do we respond."

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson had similar grievances about Cleveland's defense.

"Our communication has got to be better," he said. "Our physicality has got to be better. I thought it was better in the second half, but by that time, they were rolling.

"We haven't had a stinker yet this year. That was a stinker. It happens in the NBA. It's unfortunate it happens in front of our home crowd, but we kind of deserved what we got."

Hawks lead Cavs 112-109 with 6:30 left in the fourth quarter

The Cavs encountered their first deficit since early in the fourth quarter when Young led a fast break off a miss by Garland and dished out an assist to Hunter on a 3-pointer. The shot put the Hawks ahead 112-109 with 6:44 left to play. The Cavs called timeout with 6:30 remaining.

Atlanta Hawks called timeout 36 seconds into the fourth quarter after Cleveland Cavs score five points

Forward Georges Niang made a floater with 11:46 left in the fourth quarter, and Mitchell sank a 3-pointer with 11:24 left. Suddenly, the Cavs led 100-98, and the Hawks called timeout.

Coming out of the timeout, Atlanta committed a 24-second shot clock violation. And the Cleveland crowd roared.

Cavs trail Hawks 98-95 at the end of the third quarter

The Cavs trailed the Hawks 98-95 at the end of the third quarter. Cleveland was outscored 37-31 in the quarter.

Hawks small forward Zaccharie Risacher went 5-of-5 shooting from the field (3 of 3 on 3-pointers) for 13 points in the third quarter. He had 15 total points through the first three quarters.

Mobley (19 points and 11 rebounds) and center Jarrett Allen (15 points and 10 rebounds) for the Cavs entering the fourth quarter. Mobley finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Allen tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Cavs respond to timeout, charge back and regain lead with 2:48 left in the third quarter vs. the Hawks

Exactly a minute after the Cavs trailed by five points and called timeout, they took a 91-90 lead.

Guard Sam Merrill made a 3-pointer, followed by Mobley's three-point play on a putback layup.

Hawks lead Cavs 90-85 with 3:48 left in the third quarter

The Cavs fell behind 90-85 with 3:48 left in the third quarter, prompting Atkinson to call timeout. Atkinson could not have been happy about Hawks guard Dyson Daniels running the floor for a fast-break layup off a missed 3-pointer by Merrill.

Cavs trail Hawks 81-80 with 6:51 left in the third quarter

This game is starting to feel as if it will come down to the wire. The Hawks built their largest lead thus far (four points) twice in the first half of the third quarter.

Garland made a 3-pointer to cut one of those leads to a point. A second later, the Hawks called timeout with 6:51 left in the third quarter and clinging to an 81-80 advantage.

Cavs lead Hawks 64-61 at halftime

The Cavaliers had a 64-61 halftime advantage against the Hawks.

The Cavs briefly trailed the Hawks by a point after Johnson made a dunk with 1:13 remaining in the first half.

But Mobley and Mitchell made field goals in the final minute of the second quarter and Mobley ended the first half with a blocked shot.

Mobley led the Cavs with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in the first half. Mitchell and center Jarrett Allen had 10 points apiece.

The Hawks were paced by guard Bogdan Bogdanovic 's 14 points off the bench. He made all three of his 3-pointers through two quarters. He finished with 17 points.

The Hawks shot 10 of 23 from 3-point range (43.5%) in the first half. The Cavs shot 9 of 27 on 3s (33.3%).

Nov 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) dribbles the ball in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Cavaliers lead Hawks 52-20 with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter

Ahead 52-50, the Cavs called a timeout with 5:54 left in the second quarter.

Young had just made a 3-pointer, followed by a fast-break layup off a steal and assist from center Clint Capela .

Cleveland Cavs and Hawks tied 35-35 at the end of the first quarter after Atlanta rallies

The Cavs and Hawks were tied 35-35 at the end of the first quarter after Cleveland had led by as many as 19 points.

The Hawks finished the opening quarter on a 24-5 run. Atlanta's reserves fueled the outburst. Hunter had nine points, center Onyeka Okongwu eight points and Bogdanovic eight points off the Hawks' bench through a quarter.

Nov 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) passes in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Cavs lead Hawks 27-11 with 4:55 left in the first quarter

The Cavs led the Hawks 27-11 with 4:55 left in the first quarter. Cleveland called timeout when Hunter made a 3-pointer, thought the Cavs were in complete control.

At this stage of the game, Allen and small forward Isaac Okoro led the Cavs with eight points apiece. They also led the Cavs in scoring through the first quarter. Okoro didn't score in any of the final three quarters.

Jerome checked into the game with 7:06 left in the opening quarter and immediately made an impact. He registered a defensive stop right away, made a 3-pointer with 6:03 left and assisted on an Okoro 3-pointer with 5:36 remaining.

Nov 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) knocks the ball from Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) in the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Cavs open game vs. Hawks on 10-0 run

Well, the Cavs were not messing around out of the game. They started the game on a 10-0 run, forcing a Hawks timeout with 9:53 left in the first quarter.

The Cavs made three of their first five field goals, including a 3-pointer by Okoro.

Here is some pregame information:

Cleveland Cavs remain undefeated at home during the 2024-25 season

The Cavs entered Wednesday 10-0 at home this season, riding their longest home winning streak since prevailing in 13 consecutive home games from Nov. 7, 2017, to Jan. 2, 2018.

The franchise record for longest home winning streak in the regular season is 23 games spanning Oct. 30, 2008, to Feb. 3, 2009.

Cleveland Cavaliers news: Cavs commend Ty Jerome for his 'dominant' start to the 2024-25 NBA season after he missed almost all of 2023-24

What is the injury report for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks?

The Cavs ruled out guard Caris LeVert (left knee injury management), small forward Max Strus (sprained right ankle) and forward Dean Wade (sprained left ankle).

The Hawks ruled out center Cody Zeller (not with the team) and listed guard Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis) as questionable to play. However, Hawks coach Quin Snyder said during his pregame media availability Young is available to play Wednesday.

How can I watch, listen, stream Cavs vs. Hawks game?

Wednesday's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).

What is Cavs Frog?: 'I've been wanting to dance with that frog': Impromptu mascot celebrates hot start with Cleveland Cavaliers players

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs score vs Atlanta Hawks, lost first home game of 2024-25

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