Kevin Martin scores 40 and Houston never trails after a surge late in the first quarter.
View full sizeAnderson Varejao finds a lane to drive toward the basket against Houston's Chuck Hayes during Saturday night's game in Houston.HOUSTON, Texas -- Final observations from the Cavs game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center:
Perhaps it's a sign of how badly things are going that it's possible to see progress in a 15-point loss. Coach Byron Scott came out and praised the effort of his starters, and he wasn't incorrect there. The starters did work hard, each of them playing at least 31 minutes except Anderson Varejao, who was in foul trouble and played 28:15. They cut Houston's 13-point lead to four midway through the third quarter, and then they collapsed, much like they did at the end of the game against Chicago on Wednesday. Right now they are just not good enough to spot a team a double-digit lead and have any hope of coming back. Their confidence is shot. It's going to take someone _ Mo Williams? Antawn Jamison? Daniel Gibson? _ having a night like Kevin Martin did to snap the Cavs out of this. Because no matter how much Scott is preaching defense, the Cavs aren't listening.
Final: Rockets 110, Cavs 95. If there has been one constant for the Cavaliers during their recent troubles, it has been their failure to commit on the defensive end. That was the case once again on Saturday night at Toyota Center.
The loss extended the Cavs' losing streak to seven games overall and eight on the road.
Former Zanesville High School star Kevin Martin had a season high 40 points for Houston, which became the sixth team in the losing streak to score 100 or more points against the Cavs, who fell to 7-16. Houston improved to 9-14 by shooting 48.8 percent overall, 45 percent from 3-point range, and outrebounding Cleveland, 48-33.
Antawn Jamison led the Cavs with 24 points.
Third quarter update: Rockets 92, Cavs 75. The Cavs finally decided to play some defense, and stopping the Rockets on one end allowed them to score nine straight on the other -- on a 3-pointer by Jamison, two free throws by Parker, a jumper and driving layup by Williams.
All of sudden the Cavs were within 75-71 with about six minutes left in the third quarter. Of course, they reverted to form just as quickly.
Parker couldn't stop Shane Battier, who had seven points as the Rockets closed out the quarter on a 17-4 run for a 92-75 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Second quarter update: Rockets 66, Cavs 58. The Cavs spent 12 minutes trying to catch up and trying to figure how to stop Kevin Martin, who added 10 points in the second quarter, including one on a free throw after Anderson Varejao was called for a technical foul for his reaction to being called for an offensive foul with 6 seconds left in the half.
First quarter update: Rockets 37, Cavs 29. The Cavs got off to a good start, picking up where they left off against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday -- or at least matching the energy at the start of that game.
They led, 18-14, after two free throws by Antawn Jamison with 5:30 left, and a layup by J.J. Hickson kept the Cavs in front, 25-21. But things unraveled quickly thanks to Kevin Martin and the 3-pointer.
Martin, looking every bit as good as he did back when he finished fourth in the Mr. Basketball voting back at Zanesville High School in 2000-01, scored on a driving layup, a 3-pointer and a three-point play to give the Rockets a 31-25 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter. He had 22 points in the first 12 minutes and the Rockets, eighth in the league in 3-point percentage, made 6 of 8 in the first quarter for a 37-29 lead.
The Rockets, playing the second night of a back-to-back after Friday's loss at Milwaukee, did get into a bit of foul trouble early, and three starters -- Shane Battier, Kyle Lowry and Chuck Hayes -- each had two fouls with 4:53 to go in the first quarter.
Cavs starters: F Anthony Parker, F Antawn Jamison, C Anderson Varejao, G Daniel Gibson, G Mo Williams.
Rockets starters: F Shane Battier, F Luis Scola, C Chuck Hayes, G Kyle Lowry, G Kevin Martin.
Injuries: Cavs, none. Rockets, Yao Ming and Aaron Brooks are both doubtful with left ankle injuries.
Inactives: Christian Eyenga, Jamario Moon and Samardo Samuels for Cavs. Brooks, Patterson, Yao for Rockets.
Officials: Ken Mauer, Brent Barnaky, David Jones.
Three things to watch
1. Although they rarely do take advantage of this situation, the Cavs are rested while the Rockets are playing the second game of a back-to-back after traveling from Milwaukee.
2. Will the revamped Cavs starting lineup put forth the same energy as it did against the Bulls on Wednesday?
3. Are Daniel Gibson and Ryan Hollins really over the stomach virus that kept them out of practice on Friday?