Cavs run out of bodies, and gas, in NBA Cup loss to Raptors

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 112-101 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

1. Evan Mobley did everything he could. But when you’re missing five regulars, including two All-Stars … well, that’s a mighty tall mountain to climb.

2. And climb it the Cavaliers did not. Though it did look as though they might on several occasions. They just didn’t have the bodies or chemistry to finish the job.

3. Not surprising, given how Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) and Jarrett Allen (finger) were late scratches. Sam Merrill (hip) missed his second straight game. Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot) have yet to play this early season.

4. Put all those injured body parts together, and the Cavs could’ve built a pretty good Frankenstein on Halloween night.

5. This was an NBA Cup game, of course, and those historically have not been kind to the Cavs. They will now have to win the rest of these things to have a shot at advancing. And even that may not be enough.

6. But all that matters to most Cavs fans is that it counts as a regular-season loss. Most Cavs fans also hope their favorite team is never this shorthanded again.

7. Mobley was utterly dominant, particularly in the second half, when he was even more aggressive at attacking the basket. He finished with 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting, grabbing eight rebounds.

8. Coach Kenny Atkinson called Mobley’s assertiveness “maybe the No. 1 positive” of the night. “He was really intent on getting to that paint and making the right play,” Atkinson said. “That’s the Evan we know and love.”

9. Overall, Atkinson said he was fairly pleased. “I love how we competed; I liked our process,” he said. “Maybe at the end of the game, I didn’t love. It was a lot of iso.”

10. But he conceded that these types of situations are nearly impossible to overcome. “We hate losing, but this is how we learn about our roster,” he said.

11. He speaks the truth, as the Cavaliers got some long looks at the likes of not just Jaylon Tyson (18 points), but also Thomas Byrant, Craig Porter Jr., rookie Tyrese Proctor, and even two-way man Luke Travers. Each had his moments. Each was forced into a bigger role than usual.

12. The Cavs (3-3) trailed by 13 at one point in the first half. The offense largely looked lost. It was little more than a barrage of 3-pointers. Then they started to figure out some things — and a 17-2 run over the second and third quarters followed.

13. They just weren’t able to sustain it. “I think that’s what happens when guys get out of their role,” Atkinson said. “Everyone just gets shifted.”

14. Eventually, you get all out of whack. That’s basically what happened to Cavs Lite on Friday night.

15. De’Andre Hunter gave a strong showing with 26 points and six boards. Lonzo Ball (eight points) and Dean Wade (five) started — with Wade playing 30 minutes and Ball 26. Just one example of what Atkinson means when he talks of guys “getting shifted” and being out there longer than expected.

16. The Raptors (2-4) had the majority of their big weapons, and it showed. Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Jamison Battle each scored 20. Atkinson specifically pointed to Battle as a guy who “hurt us.”‘

17. The injuries to Mitchell, Allen and Merrill aren’t believed to be anything long-term. Garland could be back by Sunday vs. the Hawks. Soon, the Cavs will be closer to whole (I assume, anyway). When that time comes, we will know much more.

18. For now, though, nights like this aren’t actually so terrible. As Atkinson said, nights like this are how you learn about your roster.