Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson spoke after his team fell 119-111 in overtime to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, December 14, highlighting challenges on both ends of the floor.
Atkinson noted that his team struggled offensively in extra time. “I didn’t feel like we created advantages,” he said. “We tried to spread them out, obviously going small, but we couldn’t create that advantage. Credit to them on defense.”
Anderson addressed the team’s inconsistency over the season and praised the group that finished the game. “I did like that group we found at the end,” he said, referencing Tyrese Proctor’s contributions. “He gave us some really good minutes. So, we did find the small ball stuff a little bit, which I thought… we’re going to need with Evan out and Jay trying to get his rhythm.”
The Cavaliers’ late-game execution also drew Atkinson’s attention. On the side out-of-bounds play at the end of regulation, he clarified that the miscommunication with Lonzo Ball was not a design issue. “It was exactly how we drew up,” he said, explaining the turnover in the final seconds.
Atkinson also praised Darius Garland for his resilience despite pain and discomfort. “He gets his stingers… hard change of direction, hard plan,” Atkinson said. “I thought he played through it tonight. He’s starting to find it a little bit, starting to get to the rim, starting to get to paint a little more… I loved his energy tonight. That’s what we need.”
The coach also explained the decision to start Dean Wade and stick with him in the fourth quarter. “Defense first,” Atkinson said. “When he’s on the floor, we’re rebounding like the 85th percentile… We needed to go small, space the floor, and Dean can hold his own at the five.”
On the broader approach with De’Andre Hunter, Atkinson emphasized lineup experimentation. “I always point the finger at myself… How can I get him with better lineups? That’s something we got to look at,” he said. “Everything’s always on the table.”
Finally, Atkinson addressed a potential late-game foul situation, noting the team’s aggressive defensive approach. “We are a foul team in those situations. Sometimes your players got to feel the game… The smaller guy really gets penalized for moving the feet, getting in the right position, going through your chest… no foul. But yeah, we’re a foul team in those situations.”
Cleveland’s loss saw Donovan Mitchell score 17 points on 6-of-24 shooting, while Garland added 26 points and nine assists. The team went scoreless in overtime, allowing Charlotte to pull away with eight unanswered points.
