BROOKLYN, N.Y.: Final thoughts from another difficult Cavs loss at the buzzer...

* If ever there was a night to give someone other than Kyrie Irving the final shot, this was it. Now let me be clear, I have no problem with Byron Scott putting the ball in Irving's hand at the end of the game. He made a 3-pointer to pull them within 101-100 just seconds earlier and he has hit countless big shots for this team since entering the league.

BROOKLYN, N.Y.: Kyrie Irving missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Brooklyn Nets held on for a 103-100 victory over the Cavaliers on Saturday at Barclays Center.

Irving sank a 3-pointer seconds earlier to give the Cavs a chance at the buzzer. He took the final inbounds pass from Luke Walton, dribbled to the top of the 3-point line and launched. With both arms raised over his head, Irving watched as the shot rattled in and out, sending the Cavs to their second loss in as many nights.

Time: 7:30 p.m.; Place: Barclays Center; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WTAM, WLEC, WAKR

CLEVELAND: Final thoughts from the press room at the Q...

* Byron Scott used a stat tonight that I haven't had time to double check, but sounds about right: In 20 of their now 24 losses, the Cavs have been leading or within six points entering the fourth quarter. "So we've put ourselves in position," he said. "We've been right there. It's just learning how to close games out."

CLEVELAND: Kyle Korver's 3-pointer with 1:21 left sent the Atlanta Hawks to a 102-94 victory over the Cavaliers, ending their brief two-game winning streak.

Kyrie Irving's driving layup with 2:53 left put the Cavs ahead 94-93, but they went scoreless the rest of the night. After a pair of poor offensive looks from Irving and Dion Waiters in the final minutes, the Hawks grabbed an offensive rebound and found Korver on the wing for his third 3-pointer of the night and a 100-94 lead.

Time: 7:30 p.m.; Place: Quicken Loans Arena; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WTAM, WLEC, WAKR

Injury report: Cavs: Anderson Varejao (knee) out; Hawks: Devin Harris (foot) out, Ivan Johnson (illness) doubtful

INDEPENDENCE: Anderson Varejao has been ruled out for games tonight and Saturday with his bruised right knee, but coach Byron Scott doesn't believe the injury is more serious than initially believed. 

Varejao has already missed four games with the injury and now won't face the Atlanta Hawks tonight or the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. 

The Cavaliers’ muddled scenario at backup point guard became a little clearer Tuesday when the team claimed Shaun Livingston off waivers from the Washington Wizards and released Donald Sloan.

The Cavaliers, coincidentally, are in Washington tonight to face the Wizards.

MILWAUKEE: The simple solution is to do this for every game, to allow the players to sleep in their own beds and fly into cities on game days. It worked for one night at least, and as a result, the Cavs managed to slay three losing streaks with a 94-82 victory Saturday over the Milwaukee Bucks.

CLEVELAND: Final thoughts from the Cavs' sixth-straight loss and 17th consecutive loss within the Central Division.

* Kyrie Irving's body language is deteriorating with every loss. He is getting more visible in his frustrations, throwing his arms up in disgust with every turnover and yelling at teammates after defensive breakdowns. "Everybody is frustrated. Everybody has a right to be,” Irving said. “It’s going to come from within from all of us. Stop making excuses because we’re young and go out there and play." 

CLEVELAND: The Cavaliers' defense fell apart in the third quarter when the Pacers scored 33 points en route to a 99-89 victory. The Cavs have lost 17 consecutive games within the Central Division.

Kyrie Irving had 17 points, five assists and six turnovers and Tristan Thompson had 12 points and 13 rebounds, but the Cavs were outscored in the paint 52-36 -- 26 of the Pacers' 33 points in the decisive third quarter came in the lane.

Anderson Varejao will be a game time decision tonight, although coach Byron Scott said this morning he is leaning toward resting Varejao's bruised knee through the weekend. The Cavs host the Indiana Pacers tonight and travel to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

Tyler Zeller will again start against the Pacers if Varejao is unable to play. 

The Cavaliers recalled Jon Leuer from Canton on Thursday after a brief stint in the Development League.

Leuer averaged 20.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in six games, all starts, with the Canton Charge. He has appeared in five games for the Cavs, averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds.

BOSTON: With their best defensive player healthy and available on Tuesday, the Cavaliers regressed defensively. With Anderson Varejao sidelined Wednesday nursing a knee injury, the Cavs had little chance against the Boston Celtics in TD Garden.

Varejao watched from the bench Wednesday as Paul Pierce was blazing hot during the third quarter of the Cavs’ 103-91 loss to the Celtics. Pierce had a season-high 40 points, including 17 in the third quarter when he was unstoppable. Pierce entered averaging 20.9 points per game against the Cavaliers and has seemed to enjoy torturing them throughout his career. He’s never been as hot as he was Wednesday.

Time: 7:30 p.m.; Place: TD Garden; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WTAM, WLEC, WAKR

CLEVELAND: The Cavaliers' on-again, off-again effort turned off again and the result was inevitable. Jose Calderon continued his mastery of Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters had a quiet return to the lineup in the Toronto Raptors' 113-99 victory over the Cavaliers on Tuesday. 

The win ended the Raptors' 11-game road losing streak and improved them to 1-14 away from Air Canada Centre.

Time: 7 p.m.; Place: The Q; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WTAM, WLEC, WAKR

INDEPENDENCE: Dion Waiters returned to practice on Monday and will play Tuesday night in the Cavs' home game against the Toronto Raptors. Coach Byron Scott won't say whether he will start or come off the bench until pregame on Tuesday.

Waiters missed eight games with a sprained left ankle. His return means the entire roster will be available for the first time since Nov. 18. Siince Tyler Zeller fractured his cheekbone in the fourth game of the season, the Cavs' entire roster has been available for only six games -- and Kyrie Irving played in one of those with a fractured finger.

NEW YORK: The Dark Knight rose in the Garden, but the final free throw wouldn’t fall.

The Cavs lost another heartbreaker Saturday to the New York Knicks 103-102 when Anderson Varejao’s second free throw with one second left didn’t fall.

NEW YORK: Kyrie Irving had a few good laughs the last couple of weeks making fun of Tristan Thompson's gaudy facemask. Now he has one of his own.

CLEVELAND: The Cavaliers had a season-high 27 turnovers, while their two best players both struggled and temporarily left the game with injuries in a 90-86 loss Friday to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kyrie Irving had 26 points and Anderson Varejao grabbed 18 rebounds, but both players combined to shoot 13 of 32 from the floor and totaled nine turnovers.

Time: 7:30 p.m.; Place: The Q; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WTAM, WLEC, WAKR

Injury report: Cavs: Dion Waiters (ankle) out; Bucks: Doron Lamb (ill) probable; Larry Sanders (ill) probable, Ekpe Udoh (wrist) questionable, Beno Udrih (ankle) out..

CLEVELAND: Final thoughts from the Cavs’ stunning 100-94 victory over the Lakers. The Cavs ended their five-game losing streak, while the Lakers have dropped five of six.

* Hard to know where to start after a game like this, so let’s start with Kyrie Irving. Someone who knows nothing about basketball could turn on film of the Cavs’ last 11 games, then watch tonight’s game and see a noticeable difference. That’s the special aura Irving brings.

CLEVELAND: Kyrie Irving shined in his return with 28 points, 11 assists and six rebounds, outdueling Kobe Bryant in a thrilling 100-94 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant had 42 points as the two stars, young and old, traded baskets and momentum throughout the second half. The victory snapped the Cavs’ five-game losing streak while sending the Lakers tumbling to their third-straight loss and their fifth in six games.

INDEPENDENCE: A team desperate for good news finally received some Monday when Kyrie Irving returned to practice and was cleared to play in Tuesday's home game against the Los Angels Lakers.

The Cavaliers went 2-9 without their star after he fractured his left index finger against Dallas on Nov. 17. He played in one more game before the fracture was discovered. Now he's returning a week earlier than expected, although he still must wear a protective splint over the finger.

CLEVELAND: It wasn’t a slow start that doomed the Cavs this time, it was a terrible second half against a terrible opponent with a terrible road record.

All of that makes the Cavs pretty terrible these days.

Time: 7:30 p.m.; Place: The Q; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WTAM, WLEC, WAKR

Injury report: Cavs: Kyrie Irving (wrist) out; Dion Waiters (ankle) doubtful; Pistons: None.

MINNEAPOLIS: Final thoughts from the Cavs' worst offensive night of the season (and that's saying something).

* It was going to die sooner or later, it's just too bad Anderson Varejao's run of double-doubles ended one shy of the club record. Varejao's streak ended at 10 games tonight because he blew too many chances around the rim. Kevin Love played good defense on him, but Varejao simply missed open looks around the basket tonight. It happens.

MINNEAPOLIS: As long as Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters are both sidelined, the Cavaliers have to count on Anderson Varejao more than they should to provide production at both ends of the floor.

On nights like Friday, when Varejao is struggling with his shot, the Cavs’ chances of winning are nil.

Here is the video proof of a hilarious moment during Byron Scott's pregame media availability prior to Wednesday's home game against the Chicago Bulls. 

Using a cell phone as a tape recorder is a great idea, right up until this happens. Enjoy.

MINNEAPOLIS: Rookie Dion Waiters will not play in Friday's game at Minnesota and Cavs coach Byron Scott doesn't expect him to play Saturday night at home against the Detroit Pistons, either.

Saturday marks a week since Waiters sprained his left ankle in a double-overtime loss to Portland. He was originally listed as day to day, and most of the swelling is out of the ankle, but Scott said Waiters is still dealing with a bone bruise and some pain. The game against the Pistons would mark the fourth Waiters has missed with the injury.

MINNEAPOLIS: The Cavaliers assigned Jon Leuer to the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League on Friday after he appeared in only five of the Cavs' first 19 games.

Leuer, claimed off waivers over the summer, was averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds. He will be available when the Charge play at Springfield on Saturday.

Cavs rookie Dion Waiters did not fly with the team to Minneapolis for Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He remained in Cleveland for more treatment on his sprained left ankle.

Waiters has been listed as day to day since injuring the ankle on Saturday. This marks the third consecutive game he has missed with it. 

CLEVELAND: Final thoughts from the Cavs' 95-85 loss to the Chicago Bulls...

* I apologized in advance to Kevin Jones for snapping this picture of him, but I couldn't resist. Poor kid has been in the NBA less than 48 hours and he's been hit with a pink backpack, a stroller and a baby doll compliments of his head coach.

CLEVELAND: The Cavs have enough problems beating the Chicago Bulls these days without their best players making errors. So it became evident early on the Cavs were in real trouble Wednesday when Alonzo Gee was yanked two minutes into the game for presumably a defensive miscue and Anderson Varejao had three turnovers in his first nine minutes.

The Cavs lost their 10^th straight to the Bulls, 95-85, when they were again forced to play without their starting backcourt of Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving. Waiters missed his second consecutive game with a sprained left ankle, and with 40 percent of their offense on the bench, the Cavs again struggled to score.

INDEPENDENCE: Dion Waiters' sprained left ankle will keep him out of another game Wednesday when the Cavaliers host the Chicago Bulls. Daniel Gibson will start in his place at shooting guard.

"He needs more time," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "The swelling has gone down, but there is still a significant amount of soreness in there."

Time: 8 p.m.; Place: Quicken Loans Arena; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WTAM, WLEC, WAKR

Injury report: Cavs: Kyrie Irving (wrist) out; Dion Waiters (ankle) out; Bulls: Richard Hamilton (foot) out, Derrick Rose (knee) out.

INDEPENDENCE: The Cavaliers have recalled Kevin Jones from the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League. He is at practice on Tuesday and will be available when the Cavaliers host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

Jones has appeared in five games for the Charge, averaging 23.6 points and 12.6 rebounds. Both figures rank third in the D-League. He has four double-doubles in five games.

DETROIT: Final thoughts from the Cavs' second-straight loss...

* Daniel Gibson put up a good front after the game, talking about how Dion Waiters’ absence just creates an opportunity for someone else. That’s all well and good, but at some point the talent drop from point A to point B is pretty severe. The Cavs have reached that point.

AUBURN HILLS, MICH.: The Cavaliers have put up an admirable effort on most nights despite the absence of Kyrie Irving. But removing Dion Waiters, too, was bound to lead offensive disaster – even against one of the worst teams in the NBA.

The Cavaliers lost to the Detroit Pistons 89-79 Monday in front of about 3,000 fans. It could’ve been much worse. The Pistons led by 22 in the first half and appeared to be headed toward a blowout until they realized they entered as a five-win team incapable of playing that well for 48 minutes.