The Cavs went to six cities in 12 days. They played five teams currently in the playoff picture and another (New Orleans Pelicans) with the same aspirations.

DENVER -- Veteran Channing Frye couldn't help but exhale when reflecting on the Cleveland Cavaliers' brutal season-long six-game road trip that mercifully ended in Denver with a 124-102 loss on Saturday night. 

Frye knew exactly what Cleveland was up against. 

The Cavs went to six cities in 12 days. They played five teams currently in the playoff picture and another (New Orleans Pelicans) with the same aspirations.

The trip began in New Orleans in the central time zone and went all the way west to Los Angeles to see old buddy LeBron James, who didn't play in the matchup because of a groin injury, before it ended with a whimper against the Nuggets. Mixed in were blowout losses against Houston, Portland and Utah. 

To make things tougher, the Cavs lost starter Larry Nance Jr. to a sprained MCL one night before leaving for the Big Easy and then center Tristan Thompson followed, missing the final two stops because of foot soreness -- the after-effect of a sprained foot that cost him 10 games in December. 

The Cavs sure could've used that tandem Saturday night against the burly Nuggets, who typically deploy a pair of bigs in most of their lineup combinations. 

Without Thompson, Nance and Kevin Love -- still not ready following surgery on his foot that has sidelined him since October -- the Cavs couldn't match Denver's size or strength. 

"They posed a big problem for us," Head coach Larry Drew said. "They're a big, physical team. We tried to move some things around and tried to change the game up a little bit and play some zone, but in the end, their size wore us down. They're a good team."

MVP candidate Nikola Jokic set the tone with a brilliant 13-point, five-assist first quarter. His teammates followed his lead. Point guard Jamal Murray finished with 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. He had 10 points in the third quarter, helping the Nuggets push the lead to a game-high 30 points. 

Jokic recorded his sixth triple-double of the season, pouring in 19 points to go with 12 assists and 11 rebounds. He exited with a couple minutes left in the third quarter to boisterous chants of "M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P" and never returned. He didn't have to. He did plenty in those 28 minutes. 

Power forward Paul Millsap overpowered Cedi Osman. Millsap scored 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go with five rebounds in 23 minutes. Trey Lyles (16), Monte Morris (15) and Malik Beasley (13) also hit double figures. 

The Cavs were led by Ante Zizic, who earned his second straight start in Thompson's usual spot and made quite a case for more playing time. Zizic had 23 points on 9-of-12 from the field. He reached double figures in five of the six games on the trip. 

"Last couple of games I got more playing time," Zizic said. "That's meant a lot. My confidence is getting better. More comfortable. Finally I found my rhythm. Before I had some struggles with injuries at beginning of season and I couldn't catch my rhythm, but now I think finally I'm getting reps and feel like I'm doing good."

Cedi Osman chipped in with 17. 

The loss against Denver sealed Cleveland's 1-5 mark on the trip, the lone win coming against Los Angeles, which has been scuffling in James' absence. The average margin of defeat: 16.5 points. 

Forget the fun team bonding moments. Forget those passionate debates about burger joints and other everyday topics in the visitor's locker room. The get-togethers with old teammates and workout buddies. And the hilarious jam sessions coming from the crowded training room nearly an hour before tipoff.

The best part about Cleveland's road trip: It's finally over. 

Lineup change

The Cavs used their 19th starting lineup, as Drew swapped in Cameron Payne for Alec Burks.

Payne, who is on his second 10-day contract, has received plenty of praise from the coaching staff for his energy, hustle, playmaking and scoring punch off the bench.  But in his first start since joining Cleveland on Jan. 8, Payne looked completely overmatched. He didn't score in 20 minutes. 

These lineup swaps have mostly been forced by injury, as Saturday's game featured two teams that have missed the most games because of that in the NBA. 

The Nuggets have 201 such games. The Cavs have 174. 

NBA debut

Signed from the G League to a two-way deal, forward Deng Adel made his NBA debut at the 5:08 mark of the fourth quarter. He scored first NBA basket, a 3-pointer from the right wing, with 53.6 seconds left. 

Rodney Hood bounces back

Jitters got the best of Hood in his Utah homecoming one night earlier. He scored four points, his second-lowest total of the season.

But he quickly rebounded, able to erase those bad memories with the aggressive approach his coach has been demanding all season. Hood finished with 18 points on 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-5 on 3-pointers in 26 minutes. 

Up next

The Cavs return home for a Monday matinee game against the Chicago Bulls, who have yet to win a game in the new year. Tipoff is at 1 p.m. 

Before Clarkson could respond, Tristan Thompson, sitting one locker over, answered for his teammate.

DENVER -- It was a simple question phrased to Jordan Clarkson who had just got done rubbing cream on his fresh tattoo -- one of deceased rapper Pimp C that he got while the Cleveland Cavaliers were in Los Angeles, the third stop on a 12-day trip that covered 5,644 miles and three different time zones.

What do you take away from this road trip?

Before Clarkson could respond, Tristan Thompson, sitting one locker over, answered for his teammate.

"That we get to go home," Thompson said.

Clarkson nodded in approval.

The Cavs finished the longest road trip of the season with a 124-102 loss against the Denver Nuggets -- a title-contending team that currently owns the fourth-best record in the NBA. Cleveland went 1-5 on the trip, losing by an average of 16.5 points. They have lost 15 of the last 16 games. 

Many have spent a bulk of the season trying to pull positives from losses. But this night it proved tough.

"It's hard to gauge how this road trip went," Clarkson told cleveland.com. "S---, we're missing our whole damn frontcourt and we have to learn how to play through that kind of stuff and still find a way to compete."

Larry Nance Jr. suffered a sprained MCL the night the team left for New Orleans, the first stop in this six-city journey. David Nwaba, who has been playing small-ball forward when healthy, has missed the past 12 games with a severe ankle sprain.

Even though Kevin Love has been working out, shooting on the court and riding the bike in the halfway prior to tipoff, he still isn't close to an actual return. Love has to play 2-on-2 and 3-on-3. There are a handful of steps still before he can be cleared.

Thompson has been dealing with soreness in the same foot that cost him 10 games in December. He sat out both legs of this recent back-to-back.

On Saturday night, against the talented Nuggets bigs led by MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, head coach Larry Drew was forced to use Cedi Osman, Ante Zizic, Jaron Blossomgame and Channing Frye.

Osman, of course, has been a key member of the rotation since the start of the season. The other three? Not so much.

"We knew coming into the trip it would be tough playing against some really talented basketball teams," Drew said. "We would have liked to have played better, but we played the hand that was dealt to us. Right now the focus is just trying to our guys back. Trying to get Tristan back. Trying to get David back. Hopefully Kevin will be close to where he's able to be out on the floor. We desperately need to get our guys back, Larry Nance included."

These lengthy trips are usually an opportunity for the team to grow together. According to Rodney Hood, there were team lunches and dinners in Houston and Los Angeles. The guys got together after practices. They took advantage of those off-court moments.

"We did a lot of team bonding, especially in LA," he said. "It was good to get close to each other. Feels like it's been a revolving door of guys being injured, guys coming in and guys leaving. Trying to get some type of continuity."

On the floor that's been an issue. Cleveland used its 19th different starting lineup Saturday. The Cavs have missed the second-most games due to injury in the NBA this season. Ironically, the Nuggets lead the league in that category.

Cameron Payne, recently signed to a second 10-day contract, started for Alec Burks and played 20 minutes. Blossomgame, one of a pair on a two-way deal, was seventh in minutes played. Frye, 35, played 15 on the second game of a back-to-back.

At some point, doesn't reality -- and acceptance -- set in? Isn't there a conclusion that this is just who the Cavs are and this is how the rest of the season is likely to play out?

"I don't accept that," Clarkson told cleveland.com. "I'm trying to compete in games. It's tough. But we don't even have a team. You're playing Channing right now and he wasn't even getting no minutes this year. All these guys dealing with injuries and stuff like that. Sometimes coming into the game a little overmatched. But I'm not set on this is how we are. You can't gauge what we are with, what, six dudes out. There's no gauging anything. I'm not going to let myself fall into that."

Hood echoed Clarkson's comments.

"Man, you have a job. You have to come to work. At the end of the day you have to have pride," he said. "We're losing games and it's never easy, but you have individual pride and want to put your best foot forward every time you are out there on the court. Hopefully we put that into a team effort.

"We're just halfway through the season. You want to keep trying to get better and build. My rookie year we didn't win a lot of games before All-Star break and then after All-Star break we took off. You don't want to just give up on it. Continue to try to build habits. If not for this year, then for years to come."

The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-38) will host the Chicago Bulls (10-36) for a special MLK Day matchup on Monday afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-38) will host the Chicago Bulls (10-36) for a special MLK Day matchup on Monday afternoon.  

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Quicken Loans Arena

TV: FoxSports Ohio

Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; WMMS 100.7 FM, La Mega 87.7 FM.

Online: FoxSports Go apps

Last meeting: The Cavs lost to the Bulls 112-92 on Dec. 23, 2018 in Cleveland. 

Cavs minute: The Cavs have lost the first two games against Chicago this season. ... Alec Burks (3,983) is 17 points shy of reaching 4,000 points in his career. ... During the recent six-game road trip, Cleveland's bench averaged 50.0 points. The Cavs' reserves rank fourth in the NBA in scoring. ... Ante Zizic recorded a career-high 23 points against the Nuggets Saturday night. Zizic has posted three consecutive double-digit scoring games for the first time in his career. ... Cedi Osman is averaging 13.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 30.9 minutes over the last 18 games. ... Collin Sexton has scored in double figures in 40 games so far, which is tied for most among all rookies this season. ... He ranks first among rookies in free throw percentage, fourth in points and tied for third in assists. 

Bulls minute: The Bulls have not won a game in the new year and enter this matchup riding a 10-game losing skid. ... Lauri Markkanen is averaging 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in his last 13 games. ... Zach LaVine, the Bulls' leading scorer, is one of seven players in the Eastern Conference with 29 or more 20-point games this season. ... LaVine has dished out six or more assists in three straight games, which ties the longest streak of his career. ... Chicago's earlier win versus Cleveland was its largest margin of victory this season.... Chicago has scored 100-plus points in eight consecutive games, which is its longest streak in more than a calendar year.

Probable starters:

Cavs

F Rodney Hood

F Cedi Osman

C Ante Zizic

G Cameron Payne

G Collin Sexton

Bulls

F Chandler Hutchison

F Lauri Markkanen

C Robin Lopez

G Zach LaVine

G Kris Dunn

The NFL conference championships had two calls that marred otherwise thrilling games. Watch video

The NFL conference championships had two calls that marred otherwise thrilling games. In the NFC Championship, the Rams got away with a blatant pass interference that ultimately resulted in the Saints losing the game. In the AFC Championship, the Chiefs were flagged by a weak "roughing" the passer call where Chris Jones barely makes contact with Tom Brady after letting go of a pass. Which one was worse?

PERSPECTIVES

Pass interference calls can sometimes go either way, but what Nickell Robey-Coleman did to Tommylee Lewis was black and white. Even to the naked eye, everyone knew he was interfered with. Even Robey-Coleman knew it! The Saints could've put the game further away with a touchdown had it not been for the blown call. The refs need to make that obvious call.

The league is trying to protect the quarterback, but this is just ridiculous. Chris Jones barely touched Brady's helmet and yet got flagged for roughing the passer. Without that call, the Patriots would've been put in a difficult 3rd and long instead of marching down the field to score a go-ahead touchdown. If there's any evidence that New England gets preferential treatment, it's this "violent" hit.

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

After a season of triumphs and controversies, only two teams remain with the Super Bowl Championship on the line. Watch video

After a season of triumphs and controversies, only two teams remain with the Super Bowl Championship on the line. The Los Angeles Rams rode an improved defense and a big-play offense en route to the biggest game of the year and have what it takes to snatch the title. Still, the Patriots have championship experience, the greatest quarterback of all time and the greatest coaching tactician ever. No one can beat them. Who will win Super Bowl LIII?

PERSPECTIVES

Los Angeles always loves a winner and it doesn't get any better than making it to the Super Bowl three years after relocating to the City of Angels. The Rams got to the playoffs with an explosive offense, but what got them to the Super Bowl was a defense that improved in the postseason enough to stop the Dallas Cowboys' vaunted rushing attack and the New Orleans Saints' dynamic offense led by Drew Brees.

Sean McVay might not have the experience Bill Belichick has, but he is innovative and not afraid of the big moment. His approval of the fake punt early in the NFC Championship showed took guts and he showed he has the courage to take risks, which is usually what is needed. The Rams have what it takes to defeat the Patriots!

Well, well, well--look who's back in the Super Bowl for the third straight year. The Patriots always save their best for the end of the season and they didn't disappoint, taking down the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in a thrilling overtime victory.

Bill Belichick can game plan for anyone and he won't let Sean McVay outcoach him in the biggest game of the year. He'll exploit holes in Los Angeles' defense and he'll find a way to stop Todd Gurley and Jared Goff. Throw in Tom Brady, who still has nerves of steel in crunch time, and you have another Super Bowl victory for New England.

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

It just so happens the Los Angeles Lakers, where James now resides, have cleared a large amount of cap space so they can woo another star to Hollywood.

BOSTON -- Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving, a one-time teammate of LeBron James, will be part of the star-studded free agent class this summer.

It just so happens the Los Angeles Lakers, where James now resides, have cleared a large amount of cap space so they can woo another star to Hollywood. 

Plenty of chatter has centered on the Lakers attempting a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis. The Kawhi Leonard rumors haven't completely gone away. There's also Kevin Durant, who could leave Golden State after three seasons. Klay Thompson would be an ideal fit next to James -- even if Thompson has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay in the Bay Area. Jimmy Butler could be a target. 

But what about Irving? 

"Anything is possible," Tristan Thompson, who arrived in Cleveland at the same time as Irving, told cleveland.com while imitating Kevin Garnett. "One day he could wake up and think about it. Just the possibility for y'all to think about it. There's a method to the madness." 

One year ago, the question about Irving and James reuniting would have been ludicrous. At that time, Irving was only months removed from forcing his way out of Cleveland, asking for a trade so he would be out of James' shadow and could become the player he felt wasn't possible with the Cavaliers.

That decision rocked the franchise and altered Cleveland's plans.

In an interview with The Athletic earlier this season, James called Irving's departure the "beginning of the end" of his tenure with the Cavs. 

But Irving's phone call to James recently -- one where Irving apologized for, in his own words, "being that young player that wanted everything at his fingertips" -- led to speculation around the league about a possible reunion. 

"God no. No way," ex-teammate Channing Frye told cleveland.com. "I think Kyrie is that guy that deserves his own team, that has the ability to take that team to a championship and I think in Kyrie's mind he knows that and the rest of the league knows that. He's reached that elite-level status and I think people want to play with him. He's not second fiddle. He's not Robin."

That was part of Irving's thinking when asking for a trade. According to one source who knew the Irving-James dynamic really well, the relationship between them wasn't fractured to a point where it couldn't work.

Yes, it bothered Irving that James challenged him so much, that James rarely used the term "we" and got the majority of the glory. James also had plenty of influence behind the scenes and probably didn't do enough on his part to manage the complicated situation with Irving. 

But Irving leaving Cleveland wasn't about a dislike for James.

"There was no Draymond-KD stuff with them," a source said.

It was more about Irving wanting something different. It was about getting a bigger platform, an opportunity to challenge his own greatness and be able to lead his own team -- just as he's doing in Boston. 

"I don't think there's any likelihood that would happen," the same source told cleveland.com when asked if the dynamic pairing would again consider teaming up. "Nothing precludes it from happening other than it's not what Kyrie would prefer. Not because he doesn't like LeBron. They didn't have personal malice. But it's because he likes being 'the man' more. I don't think he wants to be viewed as following LeBron again to win."

Kevin Love spent three years with Irving. Love was also there having dinner with James in that Italian restaurant about a week ago when Irving reached out.

Shortly after that story broke, Love tweeted about the growth he's seen in his old teammate and how proud he was of Irving for taking that important step.

Love said he hasn't talked to Irving about this July decision so he has "no idea" what Irving is thinking. But the Cavaliers forward admitted it would be a "very dramatic" shift for Irving to join another star's team only two years after wanting his own squad. 

"The funny thing about Kyrie is it's like just when you think you know what he's thinking then he will completely flip," Love told cleveland.com. "I think he likes to keep people guessing. I think that's going to be the big question this off-season. I know he said he was coming back to Boston and he very well could, but I think the only person that knows what Kyrie is going to do is Kyrie. I don't know if he's made up his mind yet.

"He could change on the drop of a dime because something will come up or the mood he was in or I don't know." 

Back in October, before the season tipped off, Irving announced his plans to re-sign with the Celtics during a fan fest event.

It was then reported that Irving made a verbal commitment to Celtics ownership about his plans to stay in Boston long term -- even saying publicly how he wanted his name a part of Celtics history.

But what if things don't go according to plan? What if the leadership burden, which has led to a few moments of frustration from Irving this year, becomes too much?

He has already criticized some of the younger Celtics in a way James used to with him during their time in Cleveland together. 

Or what if the Celtics have an earlier-than-expected playoff exit? What if they don't offer him the max, which a league source speculated could end up being the Celtics' final stance? What if the Boston front office tries to include him in another blockbuster deal to rejigger the roster around a different star, say, like Anthony Davis?

Then what? Would Irving head to Brooklyn? Would the New York Knicks have a shot? Would that bring Los Angeles into play?

"Could I see it happening? I guess, sure. It's Kyrie. He's different and his mind could change a bunch of times before that day," one of Irving's old Cavaliers teammates told cleveland.com. "But do I think LA is high on his list of preferred places? Probably not."

There's another layer to the Kyrie-LeBron chatter: James' preference.

Sure, he was appreciative of the phone call and the Lakers purposefully signed a handful of players to one-year deals this off-season to keep financial flexibility. But would James want to team back up with Irving knowing the challenges that came with playing together the first time?

"With Bron I think you're not going to turn away from a generational talent and that's what Kyrie is," Love said. "I'm sure if Kyrie wanted to go and those guys wanted to rekindle that I don't think either would have a problem with that. But I think the probability is...I'm not entirely sure. I mean, do any of us know?

"That's going to make for really interesting speculation this summer, especially if he doesn't make his decision on the first day." 

The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-39) will look to snap a four-game losing streak when they play the Boston Celtics (29-18) on Wednesday night.

BOSTON -- The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-39) will look to snap a four-game losing streak when they play the Boston Celtics (29-18) on Wednesday night. 

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: TD Garden

TV: FoxSports Ohio

Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; WMMS 100.7 FM, La Mega 87.7 FM.

Online: FoxSports Go apps

Last meeting: The Cavs lost to the Celtics 128-95 on Nov. 30 in Boston. 

Cavs minute: This is Cleveland's second of four meetings with the Celtics and the final visit to Boston this season. ... Alec Burks (3,986) is 14 points shy of the 4,000-point mark for his career. ... The Cavs have grabbed at least 10 offensive rebounds in 28 games this season, including Monday's loss against Chicago. ... Over the last four games, partially coinciding with Tristan Thompson's absence because of foot soreness, Ante Zizic is averaging 16.8 points on 64.1 percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 1.0 block in 30.0 minutes per game. ... Jordan Clarkson scored double figures once again during Monday's loss. He has hit that mark in all but five games this season and currently ranks third among all bench players in scoring, averaging 16.8 points. 

Celtics minute: Boston has won nine in a row at home. ... Head coach Brad Stevens picked up his 250th regular season win on Monday night, joining Red Auerbach, Tom Heinsohn, Doc Rivers and K.C. Jones as the only other coaches in franchise history to reach that historic mark. ... The Celtics are 23-3 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter. ... With a few days before their marquee matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, the Celtics are expected to rest Al Horford for the second time against the Cavaliers. ... The Celtics rank second in 3-pointers made, trailing only Houston. ... Kyrie Irving is shooting 60.3 percent from the field in his past four games. ... Irving had a career-best eight steals on Monday. ... Irving is also the first Boston player to have 10 games of 20-plus points and 10-plus assists in one season since Larry Bird did it 11 times in the 1986-87 season. 

Probable starters:

Cavs

F Rodney Hood

F Cedi Osman

C Ante Zizic

G Alec Burks

G Collin Sexton

Celtics

F Jayson Tatum

F Marcus Morris

C Aron Baynes

G Marcus Smart

G Kyrie Irving

In the NBA, having good acting skills can be as valuable as a consistent jumper. Watch video

In the NBA, having good acting skills can be as valuable as a consistent jumper. With the Academy announcing the nominees for the 2019 Oscars, we want to know who you think deserves the Best Actor award in the NBA. James Harden's ability to sell a call without going overboard is elite, as his free throw numbers show. Still, Marcus Smart can sell contact on the defensive end to turn the ball over with the best of them. Who should get the award?

PERSPECTIVES

James Harden is on pace to lead the league in free throw attempts, again--but not all of those fouls have been legitimate. 

Harden is a master at selling contacting and getting to the free-throw line. Whether it's an unnecessary head snap or falling to the lightest touch, the reigning NBA MVP's performances are worthy of an award.

Harden might be the most recognizable name in flopping, but Marcus Smart takes the cake with some audacious displays on the court. 

The trick is versatility. While his counterpart in this debate specializes on the offensive end, Smart can draw whistles on both sides of the ball, selling the slightest contact to warrant a charge or getting cheap free throws. Smart is like Bruce Willis--his acting talent is undeniable, but he just never gets the recognition he deserves. 

He is the best actor in the NBA.

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Thompson is set to miss his fourth straight game because of left foot soreness -- the same foot that forced him out of 10 consecutive games in December before returning in the new year.

BOSTON -- Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. were the last two players to walk onto the TD Garden parquet Wednesday morning for head coach Larry Drew's pre-shootaround chat. 

Neither will play Wednesday in Boston.

Thompson is set to miss his fourth straight game because of left foot soreness -- the same foot that forced him out of 10 consecutive games in December before returning in the new year. 

According to sources, there is belief that Thompson returned a bit too soon, before his sprained foot was fully healed and now the Cavs are being more cautious.

When Thompson originally suffered the injury on Dec. 10 in Milwaukee, he was given a timeline of 2-4 weeks. He beat the one-month mark by about a week and was playing well, recording a double-double in three of the eight games.

But he started to feel some pain during Cleveland's recent six-game road trip and has been out since.  

The question now: Is it time to get concerned again that this will cause another lengthy absence?

"To be perfectly honest I don't know," Drew said Wednesday morning. "I don't know how to answer that one. We know that he's had some soreness before, which kept him out. He came back and now he's experiencing it again so that's something totally up to medical. He's not deemed (ready) to play so he will be out again tonight."

With Thompson sidelined, along with Kevin Love and Nance, who was in good spirits Wednesday, saying he was starting to feel better, the Cavs will enter the game against Boston with just two healthy bigs. Ante Zizic gets the start in Thompson's spot while Channing Frye comes off the bench. 

Over the last four games, partially coinciding with Thompson's absence, Zizic is averaging 16.8 points on 64.1 percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 1.0 block in 30.0 minutes.

"He's got terrific stuff on both blocks," Drew said of Zizic. "Uses both hands very well. He can manufacture a shot for a big man. He just has to get the experience of playing consistent minutes, which with our situation as far as bigs are concerned, that's going to happen. He's going to play a lot of minutes and he's getting the experience and he's made good usage of it."

The Celtics will rest usual starting center Al Horford. 

The New York Yankees legend defined the most storied franchise for an entire generation.

Mariano Rivera became the first player ever to be unanimously elected for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Many feel this precedent is good for Rivera's former teammate and 2020 Hall candidate, Derek Jeter. He was the best player on one of the most dominant teams of his era and if anyone were to be unanimously selected, it would be him. Others feel he was great, but not great enough to garner that kind of honor. What do you think? 

PERSPECTIVES

Jeter was supposed to be the first player to be unanimously voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after Ken Griffey Jr. failed, but Rivera became the first inductee with that distinction. That's okay; he can get it in 2020 anyway.

The Yankees legend defined the most storied franchise for an entire generation. He has five World Series Championships, 14 All-Star selections in 20 seasons, one World Series MVP and a career .310 batting average. The Captain deserves the honor of being the second unanimous Baseball Hall of Fame selection.

Derek Jeter next to make the HALL OF FAME #Unanimous .... heard it here first!!! #Yankees #NYY @Yankees

-- JOHNNY RED (@JRED164) January 22, 2019

Many thought a unanimous Hall of Fame selection was impossible, especially after Griffey was unable to pull it off. But Rivera proved to be the exception and for good reason.

The Panamanian native is the greatest closer of all time. With a single pitch -- the cut fastball -- he finished with 652 career saves, an MLB record. He also holds the record for most games finished and ERA+. Those are extraordinary accomplishments Jeter just doesn't have relative to his position.

Jeter isn't considered the greatest at his position and while he was a great player, he doesn't have mind-boggling numbers like his former teammate. He is worthy of a first-ballot selection for sure, but not a unanimous one.

For those who think Jeter is gonna be unanimous, just stop. He's not. Use your brain. #Mo is the greatest closer of all time. Jeter is NOT the greatest SS of all time. #Yankees #HallOfFame #MarianoHallOfFame #MLBHOF

-- Russell in New Haven (@Rdematts99) January 23, 2019

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Behind Shaker Heights high school star Terry Rozier's 26-point night and promising young wing Jaylen Brown, who poured in 23 points off the bench, the Celtics pounded short-handed Cleveland 125-103.

BOSTON -- Playing against the Boston Celtics will always serve as a reminder of what the Cleveland Cavaliers no longer have. 

Well, more appropriately, who they no longer have. 

Kyrie Irving wasn't in the TD Garden, away from the team and ruled out because of flu-like symptoms. But there were plenty of Irving reminders everywhere: jerseys in the arena, his face all over the team's intro video and then, of course, Cavaliers rookie Collin Sexton, who has become the centerpiece of the deal. 

The Celtics didn't need Irving Wednesday. They didn't need Al Horford either. He was rested ahead of the team's marquee matchup with Golden State this weekend. 

Behind Shaker Heights high school star Terry Rozier's 26-point night and promising young wing Jaylen Brown, who poured in 23 points off the bench, the Celtics pounded short-handed Cleveland 123-103. 

The final score was changed shortly after the game from 125-103 to 123-103, with a basket taken away after originally being credited to Jayson Tatum due to a computer glitch. The NBA reviewed the tape and said the basket never happened in the fourth quarter.

The trade that rocked the Cavaliers in 2017 and became the "beginning of the end" for LeBron James in Cleveland is starting to look worse. 

Perhaps Ante Zizic, considered a developmental throw-in from Boston at the time, can help make it more respectable. Zizic made his fourth straight start in Tristan Thompson's absence due to soreness in his left foot. With Thompson out, Zizic has capitalized on this opportunity. 

The burly center scored 19 points on 9-of-17 shooting to go with eight rebounds in 33 minutes. It's the fifth straight game Zizic has tallied double figures and seventh in the last eight. 

"I think Big Z is starting to get into a comfort area as far as playing," Head coach Larry Drew said. "He's playing more minutes with both Tristan and Larry (Nance Jr.) out. Hopefully he will just continue to play well and we will take a look at this and get ready for the next one."

Given Sexton's stalled development, Zizic will have to become a bigger piece of the deal than maybe anyone expected. 

There were other additions as well. Isaiah Thomas and his busted hip were sent to Los Angeles, a deal that brought back Jordan Clarkson and Nance.

Clarkson tallied 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting against the Celtics. He's now reached double figures in 43 of 48 games this season. He's the Cavs' leading healthy scorer and ranks third in the NBA among reserves. 

Nance remains out with a sprained MCL. Before his injury, the bouncy forward was looking like one of the Cavs' building blocks. 

Technically, Rodney Hood has also become part of that Irving blockbuster, as Hood was brought to Cleveland in exchange for Jae Crowder. Hood struggled once again Wednesday, scoring three points on 1-of-9 shooting. Beyond that, Hood's future is murky. Given his expiring contract, he's a potential trade candidate -- if he opts not to use his veto power. 

So the Cavs need Sexton to grow into, at the very least, a reliable starter, and Zizic will have to stick in the rotation.

In Sexton's sporadic rookie campaign, the 20-year-old guard has statistically been the league's least impactful player, according to ESPN's Real Plus-Minus metric. 

There's plenty of time remaining to change that and it's certainly not all his fault. The Cavs are asking him to do far too much and he's surrounded by what seems like a different supporting cast each night. 

Countless point guards throughout NBA history have taken time to blossom. Each one develops at a different pace.

Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox was one of the NBA's worst players as a rookie before turning a corner in his sophomore season. It's taken Brooklyn's D'Angelo Russell, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, until this year to push himself into the All-Star conversation. Before Charlotte's Kemba Walker was one of the conference's elite lead guards, he was an out-of-place rookie who couldn't shoot.

In a season that was supposed to be defined by development, all eyes were on Sexton, who racked up 16 points behind a strong second half, and Cedi Osman, who tallied a career-high 25 points on 8-of-11 from the field, including 6-of-7 from 3-point range. Osman has reached double figures in seven of the last 10 games. 

Zizic was a bit of an afterthought. He was the other guy from that Irving deal. He's proving to be much more than that lately. 

Horrible finish

The Cavaliers took a 39-38 lead after Hood's 3-pointer. Then the Celtics woke up.

In the final 7:52 of the second quarter, Boston picked up the defensive intensity, snapped the ball all around from side to side and ended the half on a 27-11 run.

"I thought they sped us up a little bit," Drew said after the game. "Know we had a good pace going there in the first quarter and their pressure sped us up. We took some bad shots. We turned the basketball over. On the road you can't do that, particularly against a good team. Something we talked about going into the game, trying to establish a rhythm. How we do that is taking care of the basketball and rebounding the basketball. We had a bad stretch in the second quarter."

Rozier capped the stretch with a tightly-contested 3-pointer from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded and the boisterous Boston crowd exploded. Just like that the Cavs were staring at a 15-point deficit, which eventually grew to 23 in the second half. 

Up next

The Cavs will head home for a matchup against the Miami Heat on Friday night. 

Larry Nance Jr. has been forced to watch helplessly as the Cleveland Cavaliers have dropped seven of the eight games without him.

BOSTON -- Sitting on the sidelines often provides a unique perspective.

Because of a sprained MCL, Larry Nance Jr. has been forced to watch helplessly as the Cleveland Cavaliers have dropped seven of the eight games. During that time, he has taken mental notes. When he returns to the lineup, which he told cleveland.com is supposed to happen Friday night, he's bringing a stronger voice.

"There's nothing good coming from this," Nance told cleveland.com following the Cavs' 123-103 loss against the Boston Celtics. "This isn't good for anyone."

Before Tyronn Lue was fired as head coach six games into the rebuild, he said this season was about "wins and lessons." Losses were, no doubt, expected. But they were supposed to provide a roadmap back to respectability. The Cavs were supposed to study those defeats, figure out where things went awry and, well, learn from them.

"We're not learning from these losses," Nance said. "We are still not playing the right way."

Nance said Wednesday night he is ready to step into a bigger leadership role. He plans on taking a different approach, even being the bad guy if necessary.

With team leaders Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love still out, someone has to come forward and alter the message. It's all coming from the right place, with the goal to spark a positive change. 

"Guys haven't been receptive to it all the time because it's been positive and nice," Nance said. "It's time to shine a light on the issues."

Against Boston, the game followed a familiar script. The Cavs started off strong, even taking a lead into the second quarter. Early on, they were moving the ball, dishing out seven assists on 13 made shots. Instead of settling for poor mid-range jumpers, the Cavs were seeking good looks, scoring 30 points on 13-of-23 from the field and 4-of-9 from 3-point range in a quarter where six guys scored at least one bucket.

Then, like most nights, they started to crumble and couldn't do anything to piece themselves back together.

Cleveland finished with as many turnovers (20) as assists and watched another team top the 120-point mark. That makes three of the last five opponents.

"I don't care about offense. I don't," Nance said. "Have you seen our defensive numbers?"

Yeah, those. Well, they remain horrible.

Ante Zizic was terrific on the offensive end, scoring double figures for the fifth straight game. But his slow feet were problematic against the speedy, athletic Celtics. The Cavs were outscored by 22 points with Zizic on the floor. That was the second-worst mark of any player.

Collin Sexton got torched by every player he tried to guard, finishing with an individual defensive rating of 130.8. The Cavs keep trying to hide him, but opponents utilize switching to put him right back into a tough matchup. Jordan Clarkson was horrendous at that end of the floor as well Wednesday. It's tough to point the finger at Cedi Osman on this night. He had a career-high 25 points. Still, he was again overpowered while playing out of position.

The Cavs finished with a defensive rating of 121.8. It's the ninth time in the last 12 games with a rating over 120.

This isn't about just one or two guys. This is a team-wide problem that needs to be corrected. Even if it doesn't lead to wins, perhaps there's still enough time for good habits to be cultivated.

Nance -- and others -- recognize the team has been hit with a sledgehammer of unfortunate circumstances. Take Wednesday night. Nance was out with a sprained MCL. Love continues to rehab from foot surgery. Thompson was in street clothes with a sore foot. David Nwaba missed his 15th straight game with a sprained ankle. John Henson was walking around in a cast. The Cavs, of course, knew when they included him as part of the George Hill-Matthew Dellavedova swap that Henson was unlikely to play this season.

Against one of the best teams in the NBA, Cleveland had essentially 10 healthy bodies and just two bigs.

Love was supposed to be the team's anchor, the lone All-Star capable of taking pressure off the youngsters so they could develop at a reasonable pace. Then Love went down after Game 4.

Hill entered the year as Sexton's mentor, the guy helping the rook navigate treacherous NBA waters while also serving as a potential life preserver. When things weren't going well for Sexton, coaches could yank him out of the game and turn to the veteran.

It's all played a part in where the Cavs are today, with the worst record in the NBA, a pile of bad habits, Sexton's development seemingly stalled, team-wide growth at a standstill and Osman and Zizic showing warts -- yes, even on a promising night for both.

It's the last thing the Cavs wanted this season, especially when it comes to Sexton.

The rookie continues to put up solid numbers, just as he did with 16 points on 6-of-14 from the field against the Celtics. But he isn't making a noticeable impact, his defense hasn't improved and he's still not seeing plays develop fast enough.

One game after a zero-assist effort, Sexton had just three against four turnovers, as the Celtics' pressure had him completely out of rhythm.

So with player development the centerpiece of this grand plan and the team's lack of growth hindering that, one veteran told cleveland.com it's time to "remove the crutches."

That's precisely what Nance plans on doing. 

Six months after signing his massive four-year, $120 million contract extension, the Cleveland Cavaliers can trade their injured power forward if they so choose.

BOSTON -- When the clock struck midnight on Wednesday night/Thursday morning, the Kevin Love trade restriction was officially lifted. 

Six months after signing his massive four-year, $120 million contract extension, the Cleveland Cavaliers can legally deal their injured power forward if they so choose. 

According to sources, the Cavs' stance on keeping Love hasn't changed. They want him in Cleveland. They value what he can bring on the court when healthy and his leadership and set-the-tone work ethic behind the scenes has been very important. He wants to stay with the team as well.

"I don't know what's going to happen. I've said all along I've wanted to be here. I've said this too, it's a business," Love said recently. "We saw that last year at the deadline. Think every trade deadline, draft, free agency, always brings something new. It's always different.

"I would love to be here. Would just love to get through a whole season healthy just because I've had nagging things that have taken time and been a little bit unlucky, but I would like to play ball here."

When the two sides agreed to terms and Love inked his deal on July 24, it wasn't with the intention of sending him elsewhere if things went haywire, just as they have in the first few months. He was to be the pillar during this difficult rebuild. 

With the trade deadline approaching on Feb. 7, the Cavs have gotten calls about Love and others. They will likely pick up now that he can be moved. But even if the Cavs were willing to trade their lone All-Star, it would be pretty complicated given Love hasn't played since Oct. 24 and isn't yet ready to return.

There's a chance Love doesn't make it back before the deadline. He continues to make steady progress in his recovery from foot surgery, but still has more steps along the way. 

Love is set to make $24.1 million this season and then his contract goes up incrementally before decreasing in the final year.  

Saints fans are still reeling from a game the team lost in part due to a controversial no-call on obvious pass interference.

New Orleans Saints fans are still reeling from the NFC Championship game, a game the team lost in part due to a controversial no-call on obvious pass interference. Fans are so irate, one group has sued the NFL to replay the game and another started a petition demanding the same. Under Rule 17, Section 2, the NFL Commissioner can reverse a game's result and replay the entire game, or at the point when the extraordinary event occurred. Should it happen? 

PERSPECTIVES

The result of a playoff game has never been reversed nor replayed in NFL history, but extraordinary situations call for extraordinary measures. The blatant no-call affected the outcome of the entire game. A pass interference call would have given New Orleans a first down late in the game and a chance to ice it if the Saints scored a touchdown -- a touchdown the team was in great position for.

The Saints should be Super Bowl-bound but were robbed by incompetent referees. The league has the chance to redeem itself by calling on the power of Rule 17, Section 2 of the NFL rule book. The league needs to replay this game.

Got enough salt there, Saints fans? Teams have to deal with bad calls on a regular basis. Unlike you, they get over it because it's just a game.

There is no reason for the NFL to replay the NFC Championship. Say the Saints did get that pass interference call. The team could've been stopped by the Rams on the next set of downs and scored a field goal, resulting in the same situation. Also, the Saints could have missed a field goal, giving the Rams a chance to win the game. Or New Orleans could've scored a touchdown and the Rams could've scored on the next drive, too. There are too many variables and outcomes to say one specific situation directly altered the result of the entire game. A replay should not be granted.

Allowing fans to dictate what the league can and should do sets a bad precedent for the NFL. The fans need to get over the loss.

Analysis: Sorry, Saints fans: Roger Goodell was never going to overturn the result of the NFC title game

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-40) return home for their third matchup of the season against the Miami Heat (22-24) on Friday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-40) return home for their third matchup of the season against the Miami Heat (22-24) on Friday night.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Quicken Loans Arena

TV: FoxSports Ohio

Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; WMMS 100.7 FM, La Mega 87.7 FM.

Online: FoxSports Go apps

Last meeting: The Cavs lost to the Heat 117-92 on Jan. 2. 

Cavs minute: The Cavs have lost five straight games. ... Cedi Osman scored a career-high 25 points in Wednesday's loss against Boston. ... Osman has scored in double figures in 30 contests this season, including seven 20-plus point performances. ... Alec Burks (3,996) is four points shy of the 4,000-point mark. ... Cleveland made 13 3-pointers versus the Celtics. On the season, the Cavs have knocked down at least 10 threes in 24 games. ... Collin Sexton has scored in double figures in 42 games so far this season, which is tied for most among all rookies. Sexton has tallied double-digits in each of his last 13 games -- the second-longest streak of his career. ... Larry Nance Jr. is expected to return after an eight-game absence. Nance is third on the team in assists, averaging 3.2. 

Heat minute: Miami has lost two straight games heading into this matchup. ... Miami has won the first two meetings against the Cavaliers by an average of 24.5 points. ... Miami is the worst free-throw-shooting team in the NBA, making 68.5 percent. ... Tyler Johnson has made at least one 3-point field goal in seven straight games. ... Hassan Whiteside ranks third in the NBA in blocks, averaging 2.35. ... Justise Winslow has recorded seven 20-point games this season after posting two total in his previous three seasons. ... The Heat has held opponents under their scoring average in 15 of the last 19 games.

Probable starters:

Cavs

F Cedi Osman

F Rodney Hood

C Ante Zizic

G Alec Burks

G Collin Sexton

Heat

F Tyler Johnson

F James Johnson

C Hassan Whiteside

G Josh Richardson

G Justise Winslow

Some people believe steroid users shattered the integrity of the game.

The Baseball Hall of Fame revealed its Class of 2019 in late January, and there are a few notorious names on the ballots. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are infamous steroid users, but they are still garnering votes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Many believe steroid users shattered the integrity of the game and should not be honored among the game's greatest players. Others believe they have paid the price, and their greatness deserves to be recognized. What do you think? 

PERSPECTIVES

Baseball is a game of integrity and honor. There is no room for cheaters.

Steroid users represent an era of players who didn't respect the game enough to play it the right way. Instead of earning their way with talent and hard work, they turned to substances to get money and glory. They may have gotten numbers, but those numbers mean nothing because they were ill-conceived.

Baseball has lost its way by thinking that the Steroid Era was acceptable because everyone was doing it. The bottom line is that steroid users cheated, and cheaters should not be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

If you ever failed a test, got suspended, or admitted to using performance enhancers you should NOT be in the hall of fame. No hard feelings but you disgraced the integrity of the game, your stats are tainted. You don't deserve the honor.

-- Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) January 18, 2019

It is pretty rich that baseball players of yesteryear are complaining about steroid use when they weren't clean themselves. Most players took "greenies" or amphetamines in order to gain an unfair advantage against those who wouldn't. The hypocrisy of those players has no merit in the discussion of letting steroids users into the Hall of Fame.

The reality is that players who played in the Steroid Era made it more popular with their long bombs and incredible pitching. Steroids might make you bigger and stronger, but it doesn't help with seeing a pitch and making contact with it. It doesn't help curve a ball more. It still takes an immense amount of talent to be a great player. If steroids helped so much, then everyone would be a Hall of Famer.

They may not have been clean, but Steroid Era greats still belong in the Hall of Fame.

COLUMN: It's past time for Bonds, Clemens to earn Hall of Fame induction

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

While Love continues to make good progress in his recovery from foot surgery that has sidelined him since the fourth game of the season, there is still no timetable for a return. Watch video

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- One day after taking part in the Cleveland Cavaliers' non-contact practice, Kevin Love was able to go through shootaround before staying on the floor for a lengthy post-shootaround workout.

While Love continues to make good progress in his recovery from foot surgery that has sidelined him since the fourth game of the season, there is still no timetable for a return.

According to one source, a comeback is "not imminent."

Still, the Cavs have been happy with his recovery and Friday was another step in the process, seeing him put together back-to-back workouts without issue. The sessions have gotten longer, he continues to add drills and his activity increases each day. 

On Thursday, teammate Larry Nance Jr. said Love participated in 5-on-0 stuff, which has some of the guys envisioning what the team can become. 

"I think it will be exciting to get those guys back," Rodney Hood said. "I think it will be exciting to see what we can be. Get everybody healthy at one time. Seems like it's been a revolving door. But I think it will be fun to have those guys back and get some depth and see where that takes us." 

Thompson initially suffered the injury on Dec. 10 against Milwaukee.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson will miss approximately two more weeks because of continued soreness in his left foot, the team announced Friday afternoon. 

After being held out of the last four games with soreness related to the foot sprain that cost him extended time in December, Thompson underwent another examination and further evaluation. That testing has resulted in an updated treatment plan for his full recovery that will include him being sidelined once again. 

Thompson initially suffered the injury on Dec. 10 against Milwaukee.

He returned without issue early in January, but started feeling pain during the team's six-game road trip and was held out for the final two stops. There has been belief over the past few days that Thompson came back from the injury too soon. 

The Cavs play Miami on Friday night. If Thompson hits the two-week timeline, he will be back on Feb. 8 -- the day after the NBA trade deadline. 

One night after setting a career-high with 25 points against the Boston Celtics, an Eastern Conference elite, Osman topped that mark against Miami.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a gloomy Cavaliers season marred by injuries, inconsistency, losing streaks and lopsided losses, Cedi Osman is starting to become a beacon of hope. 

The Cavs lost their sixth straight game, 100-94, against the Miami Heat on Friday. It's the third time Cleveland has lost to Miami this season. 

But head coach Larry Drew spoke before the game about not getting caught up in the win-loss record. Doing that will only make this season more mentally challenging than it already is for his players.

In this kind of year, Drew's greatest -- and perhaps only -- reward is seeing positive strides from the youngsters. After all, it's those players who are supposed to lay the foundation and eventually steer the Cavs into a better future. 

Osman's starting to look the part. One night after setting a career-high with 25 points against the Boston Celtics, an Eastern Conference elite, Osman topped that mark against Miami.

He scored 29 points on 11-of-20 from the field to go with four rebounds, four assists and two steals in 39 minutes. It's the 31st game with double figures this season. Osman accomplished that just seven times in 61 games as a rookie. 

"I think it's just experience," Osman said after the game. "Through the season, there's a lot of up and downs, and I was able to see what is my strongest part and what is not. So I think I just started to figure out what is going on right now. I feel it's easier, more me and I'm confident with my shots and all of it. The last two months I changed my playing style. I started like attacking more."

His breakout game featured the entire arsenal. 

Helping the Cavs pick apart the suffocating Heat zone, which gave Cleveland plenty of problems in the first two matchups, Osman often flashed to the foul line -- the zone weak point -- for running floaters. Osman also sprinted out in transition, with whirling finishes in traffic, before the Miami defense could get set. When given chances, he even knocked down outside shots consistently, hitting 3-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Earlier this season, Osman seemed to lack confidence in his jumper. Often, the second-year player would run himself off the 3-point line. On Friday, he stepped into those looks without hesitation. 

"I think he's starting to figure it out," Drew said. "I think the way teams are playing him, he's really just kind of taking what they give him, not really looking to force things. That's where when I think he gets in trouble trying to create something that's not there. Now, it seems like he's just allowing the game to come to him."

Osman's final two buckets were an offensive rebound put-back and a beautiful back-cut for a reverse layup that capped his career night. 

His defense has been troublesome this season. Playing out of position, he is typically one of the opponent's primary targets. He -- and the Cavs -- were overpowered by the grimy Heat once again, allowing the Heat to reach the 100-point mark on 46.3 percent from the field. 

But those individual defensive metrics, which point to Osman being one of the NBA's worst defenders, shouldn't overshadow the development he has made at the other end of the floor.

For once, it won't be hard for Drew and the Cavs to find a bright spot. 

Welcome back

After missing the previous eight games because of a sprained MCL, Larry Nance Jr. returned to the lineup Friday night.

The coaching staff wanted to ease Nance back into the rotation, opting to bring him off the bench. Nance helped lead a unit that struggled in Boston Wednesday. His energy, leadership and playmaking were all missed, as the Cavs went 1-7 without him, losing by an average of of 16.9 points during that stretch. 

On Friday, Nance made an impact quickly, scoring first on a running hook shot over Hassan Whiteside, one of the league's premier shot-blockers. Later on, Nance followed a Rodney Hood miss with a thunderous putback slam. 

Nance finished with six points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Farewell to Cleveland

Dwyane Wade's last dance in Cleveland ended with him exchanging jerseys with Cavaliers rookie Collin Sexton. Wade, set to retire at the end of this season, received a tribute video during the first timeout. 

In his final game at The Q, Wade scored 13 points to go with six rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes. 

Up next

The Cavs will head to Chicago for the fourth and final game of the season against the Bulls on Sunday afternoon. 

A league source told cleveland.com the front office made the decision to Payne him go, valuing roster flexibility heading into the trade deadline on Feb. 7.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cameron Payne's time with the Cleveland Cavaliers has ended. 

Payne's second 10-day contract expired on Friday night, leaving the Cavs with the choice to move on or sign the 24-year-old point guard to a contract for the remainder of the season. 

A league source told cleveland.com the front office made the decision to let him go, valuing roster flexibility heading into the trade deadline on Feb. 7.

Payne confirmed the team's decision following Cleveland's 100-94 loss to the Heat.

"I feel really good about how I played here," Payne told cleveland.com. "It's understandable that they want the roster spot."

In the short term, the Cavs will have one open roster spot, which has been filled by multiple players throughout the season. Sources said the team will most likely sign another player to a 10-day contract to help with depth during next week's three-game homestand that begins Tuesday. 

Payne, a 2015 first-round pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder, was with the Cavs for 10 games after initially signing on Jan. 6.

He impressed in his short stint and earned head coach Larry Drew's praise for his playmaking, energy and scoring punch off the bench. In need of that extra ball-handler, the Cavs gave Payne a second 10-day deal ahead of the Jan. 16 game in Portland.

Payne averaged 6.3 points on 49.1 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from 3-point range to go with 2.7 assists.