On Friday November 29th the 17-2 Cleveland Cavaliers traveled to Atlanta Georgia for a matinee Black Friday rematch from last Wednesday night in Cleveland with the 8-11 Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks handed the Cavaliers their second loss of the season, by defeating them by a score of 135-124. For the Cavaliers they will be without Dean Wade, Max Strus, or Emoni Bates. Caris LeVert was questionable with his knee injury. Atlanta was without Cody Zeller and Tre Young was listed as probable with an Achillies injury. Despite great performances from Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen on Wednesday, the Cavaliers lost the game due to defensive lapses. Could that be repeated or avenged by the Cavaliers?

The game started as back and forth NBA contest, the first quarter ended with the Hawks leading 29-27. The second quarter was dead even with each team scoring 23 points and the Hawks keeping their two-point lead at halftime 52-50. The third quarter was different story. The Hawks pulled away from the Cavaliers by outscoring them 39-23 in the third quarter. And the Hawks led going into the fourth quarter by a score of 91-73. The fourth quarter was a slight two-point edge to Cavaliers but that wasn’t enough to get the win. The Hawks defeated the Cavaliers 117-101. The Cavaliers fall to 17-3 in their first 20 games of the season.

Darius Garland led the Cavaliers in scoring with 29 points in 33 minutes. Evan Mobley had a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes of play. Up next for the Cavaliers is the defending World Champion Boston Celtics Sunday December 1st at 6 pm eastern, at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.  For the first time this season the Cavaliers are on a losing streak. They will try to end it on Sunday night against their toughest opponent of the season.