The Cleveland Cavaliers have been awful on defense over their past few games. They seemed to have broken that narrative at least in the first half of Friday’s road game against the Indiana Pacers, though, as they limited Victor Oladipo and company to only 44 points in the first two quarters of the contest. That’s the fewest points they have allowed in the first half since they held the Boston Celtics to only 44 points, way back during this season’s opening game.
The Cavs needed that kind of defensive performance, especially after being abused defensively by the rampaging Toronto Raptors during Thursday’s 139-99 loss. In that game, Cleveland gave up 65 first-half points to a Kyle Lowry-less Raptors squad. Prior to that, the Cavs surrendered 67 points just before halftime in a 127-99 setback at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Cleveland’s struggles on defense have been well documented this season. The Cavs are the sixth worst team in the NBA with 108.8 points allowed per game. They are also letting opponents shoot 47.2 percent from the field, which is only 25th in the league overall. It has been worse as of late for Cleveland, as the team surrendered 119.8 points in five games prior to taking on Indiana.
The biggest test for the Cavs’ defense will come soon after their date with Indiana. The Cavs are set to host Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors in a Finals rematch at the Quicken Loans Arena this coming Monday. The Warriors beat Cleveland on Christmas Day at Oracle Arena, 99-92.
