What once looked like a team that couldn’t miss struggled to get a basket, with only Darius Garland and Evan Mobley showing consistency.

Donovan Mitchell, usually the heartbeat of the team’s offense, missed his first nine shots and never found his rhythm. Garland and Mobley combined for 34 of Cleveland’s 50 points in the first half, while the rest of the squad scored just 16 points.

Garland finished the game 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 dominated the game as they shot an abysmal 40.9% from the floor and 28.9% from 3-point range. In contrast, the Hawks showed precise execution, shooting 51.8% from the field and 41.2% from deep.

The Cavs’ defensive rotations, which had been a focal point, continually betrayed them. Over-helping on drives left Atlanta’s shooters free in the corners, a glaring problem that the Hawks exploited with game-changing three-point shots.

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 briefly reduced the deficit, but the Hawks were relentless, scoring 39 points in the quarter and extending their lead to 18 by the final frame.

The Cavs’ bench, a key part of their success early in the season, was absent and contributed just 28 points compared to Atlanta’s 50.

What added insult to injury was another outstanding performance from De’Andre Hunter, who posted his second straight 20-point game against the Cavs. A player Cleveland views as a potential trade target showed exactly why he could be valuable – but this time he did it at their expense.

The Cavs, who appeared to have a size and strength advantage inside with Jarrett Allen and Mobley, were outrebounded 53-40.

This was the Cavaliers’ first consecutive loss of the season, dropping their record to 17-3. While still an impressive record, back-to-back losses to a team they are expected to outperform exposed gaps in their approach on both ends of the floor. Their reliance on isolated scoring and defensive over-rotation has proven to be a disadvantage against well-prepared opponents.

Next

The Cavs welcome the Boston Celtics, who hold the second-best record in the NBA, to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and hope to bounce back on Sunday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Eastern on NBA TV.