The Cleveland Cavaliers spent the past month insisting that they were being overlooked as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
It took them one game to shift the league-wide spotlight on their squad, but not in the way they hoped.
Cleveland tips off its home season on Saturday night against the Brooklyn Nets, who also are trying to forget about what happened in their first contest.
Donovan Mitchell had 32 points and 10 rebounds, but the seven-time All-Star was one of the Cavaliers’ few positives as they blew a 29-point lead Thursday and lost to LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers 114-106.
Instead of making a statement in James’ home opener, Cleveland collapsed in similar fashion to their Game 1 disaster against the New York Knicks in last year’s conference finals.
“It’s on us to figure out a solution,” Mitchell said. “It’s not cool that we lost. It’s disappointing. There is a lesson to be learned. There is stuff we can get better at.”
Cleveland squandered a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter at New York, triggering a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference finals by the eventual world champion Knicks.
It was ahead by 29 late in the first half in Philadelphia before collapsing under the pressure, spoiling Mitchell’s pregame wishes. He asked, “What better way to start than to come into Philly and win on opening night in their place?”
“That second half, it was like a playoff game, a playoff atmosphere,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We played Cavs basketball in the first half, but then they really imposed their will. We resisted, but in the end, we didn’t meet the challenge.”
After being snubbed by James over the summer, the Cavaliers were forced to acquire a small forward via a trade. They added Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets and brought Mario Hezonja back to the NBA from Europe.
Hezonja was solid in his return, providing 10 points and much-needed toughness off the bench, but Watson looked lost and had eight points and five turnovers in 30 minutes.
Late-season pickup James Harden, who inked a new contract with Cleveland, also was sluggish with 16 points, five assists and six turnovers.
“They’re a good team, but this loss is on us more so than them,” Mitchell said. “They’re a good team, and we potentially could see them (in the playoffs), so I’m excited.”
The Nets were eager to turn the page in their opener Wednesday, celebrating their 60th season with an extended pregame ceremony at home.
Julius Randle shined with 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in his Brooklyn debut, but the Charlotte Hornets handed the Nets a 110-103 defeat.
Michael Porter Jr. was the only other Brooklyn player to score in double digits with 26 points, while promising second-year pro Egor Demin shot 2-of-10 from the field and missed all five of his 3-point attempts for just four points.
“We could have been better,” admitted Randle, who joined Harden and Kyrie Irving as the lone Nets with 30 points, five boards and five assists in their first game with the franchise.
“We did a lot of things that were just self-inflicted. Things that we know we can be better at — and we will be.”
Cleveland has won seven straight against the Nets, winning 12 of its last 13 games in the series. Mitchell, who grew up near the Big Apple, is 17-4 in his career against Brooklyn.
