4 months ago
- Cavaliers
- Published: Jan. 07, 2026, 5:15 a.m.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs pulled disconnected different fourth-quarter comeback against nan Indiana Pacers Wednesday night, securing a 120-116 triumph that moved them to sixth spot successful nan Eastern Conference standings. But don’t beryllium fooled by nan last people aliases their improved playoff positioning – this triumph exposed a vulnerable shape that could spell disaster travel playoff time.
The Wine and Gold Talk podcast’s latest section featuring cleveland.com Cavs hit newsman Chris Fedor and big Ethan Sands dives heavy into this concerning trend.
“This is different bad capacity by nan Cavs. Overall, they’re uncovering ways to triumph these games late. They’ve benignant of go synonymous pinch these 4th fourth comebacks,” Fedor said, highlighting a shape that’s emerged against San Antonio, Memphis, and Chicago.
What makes this peculiarly troubling is nan value of competition. Wednesday’s opponent, nan Pacers, came into nan crippled pinch conscionable six wins and was missing cardinal players for illustration Tyrese Haliburton, Obi Toppin, and Benedict Mathurin. Yet Indiana led for 36 of nan game’s 48 minutes.
“It shouldn’t person been this hard,” Fedor emphasized. “Even without Donovan Mitchell, moreover pinch Dean Wade leaving nan crippled and not being capable to play successful nan 2nd half, moreover pinch Max Strus still not being capable to debut... this should person been a batch easier for nan Cavs.”
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The numbers show a concerning story.
Cleveland presently ranks arsenic nan NBA’s fourth-best fourth-quarter squad by nett rating, but their clutch capacity paints a different picture. According to NBA.com, nan Cavaliers are conscionable 8-13 successful games defined arsenic “clutch” situations – a winning percent of only 38.1%.
Perhaps astir alarming is Fedor’s appraisal of what these comebacks represent: “It is simply a bad wont of theirs, this thought that they consciousness they tin flip a move successful nan 4th fourth aliases they tin conscionable crank up nan protect strength successful nan 4th quarter. It’s thing that they’re going to person to break arsenic nan play continues to spell on.”
Even Darius Garland, who powered nan Cavs pinch 29 points including 14 successful nan last frame, acknowledged this isn’t sustainable. Fedor revealed that Garland “didn’t deliberation it was” a bully point to trust connected these late-game heroics.
The astir damning appraisal came erstwhile Fedor stated: “I deliberation it’s giving them a mendacious consciousness of security, to beryllium honorable pinch you.” He noted that nary of these fourth-quarter comebacks against depleted aliases struggling teams are accomplishments worthy celebrating.
For a squad pinch title aspirations, nan connection is clear: nan expertise to “flip a switch” mightiness activity against lottery-bound teams, but it won’t against nan NBA’s elite. As nan Cavs learned successful their erstwhile playoff exit, postseason occurrence requires complete 48-minute performances.
Want to perceive nan afloat breakdown of nan Cavs’ concerning shape and what it intends for their playoff hopes? Listen to nan complete section of nan Wine & Gold Talk podcast for Chris Fedor and Ethan Sands’ unfiltered study of Cleveland’s fourth-quarter reliance and what needs to alteration for this squad to scope its potential.
Here’s nan podcast for this week:
This article was produced pinch assistance from AI devices and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff.
