Mitchell on stumbling Cavs: 'I would boo us, too'

"On Sunday, they came out flat against Charlotte, recovered and forced overtime before missing all 10 shots in the extra session to lose 119-111 to the Hornets, who were without star LaMelo Ball and have been one of the NBA's worst road teams this season. In the final moments, some of the Cleveland fans who stayed around in Rocket Arena until the bitter end, booed the home team, which has too often played uninspired ball this season."

"Last season, the Cavs started 15-0 under first-year coach Kenny Atkinson, raising expectations higher than they had been since LeBron James led them to a 2016 championship and four consecutive trips to the Finals. A disappointing postseason -- Cleveland was eliminated in five games by Indiana in the conference semifinals -- has been followed by an inconsistent, injury-riddled start to the 2025-26 season. The losses along with a few head-scratching performances in the past two weeks have raised questions about the Cavs' roster and makeup."

"Mitchell, who scored 48 points in a 130-126 win over Washington on Friday, blamed himself for Sunday's loss, the Cavs' sixth in nine games. He finished with 17 points on just 6-of-24 shooting, including a 1-of-11 outing on 3-pointers. After Cleveland rallied to tie it in the fourth, Mitchell had a clean look on a game-winning 12-foot jumper at the regulation horn but missed."

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost 119-111 in overtime to the Charlotte Hornets after missing all 10 shots in the extra session. The Hornets were without LaMelo Ball and have been one of the NBA's worst road teams this season. Some Cleveland fans booed late while Donovan Mitchell visibly reacted and took responsibility, saying, "We deserve it." Mitchell scored 48 two nights earlier but went 6-of-24 and 1-of-11 from three in this defeat and missed a potential game-winning jumper at the regulation horn. Last season's 15-0 start and a disappointing postseason exit have been followed by an inconsistent, injury-riddled 2025-26 start that has prompted questions about roster makeup and team cohesion.

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