Donovan Mitchell Takes Blame for Cavs' Loss to Hornets, Reacts to Boos Amid Struggles
Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell understood the frustration of his team's fans following a 119-111 overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
The Cavs had anything but a home-court advantage, with some inside Rocket Arena even booing the players.
"We deserve it," Mitchell told reporters after the game. "I was a fan once. I would boo us, too."
The six-time All-Star added that "the city deserves better than what we've been giving."
Cleveland trailed by as many as 17 points to a Hornets squad that was 7-18 coming into Sunday. Mitchell shot 6-of-24 from the field, including 1-of-11 from beyond the arc, en route to a 17-point night. Big man Jarrett Allen had just three rebounds.
The trio of Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel all scored 20-plus points for Charlotte.
The fan angst in Northeast Ohio extends far beyond Sunday evening.
Cleveland's current core hasn't advanced past the Eastern Conference semifinals. A 64-win campaign in 2024-25 resulted in a resounding second-round exit to the Indiana Pacers in five games.
In general, the Cavs haven't gotten over the hump in the postseason, which is a source of consternation. Now, they're not even winning in the regular season. At 15-12, they're eighth in the Eastern Conference.
"No one is feeling sorry for us," Mitchell said. "I wouldn't feel sorry for us. I know it's cloudy. I know it's dark. As long as we continue to stay together in this locker room, we'll be all right."
Cleveland may not turn the corner just yet when it's going to miss reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley for as much as four weeks with a calf strain.
The Cavaliers have two meetings against the Chicago Bulls, a rematch with the Hornets and then play the New Orleans Pelicans before their Christmas Day clash with the New York Knicks. Those are four winnable games against teams with losing records.
With the Cavs in their present state, however, nothing can be assumed.
