Cavs’ losing skid reaches 15 games

Associated Press

cleveland

The lowly Cavaliers got more lowly.

On Friday night, they couldn’t beat the worst shooting, lowest-scoring team in the NBA — a squad missing its top two scorers — and lost their 15th straight game.

The Cavs are beyond bad, and their losing streak may grow some more.

Andrew Bogut scored 23 points, Corey Maggette added 20 and the Milwaukee Bucks took their turn beating up Cleveland with a 102-88 win Friday night over the horrible Cavaliers, who lost for the 25th time in 26 games and seem to be getting worse.

Afterward, at least one of the Cavs showed some frustration.

“Nobody likes to lose,” said guard Daniel Gibson, his eyes widening, his voice steady. “I hate to lose — with a passion. And for me to sit here and say I’m comfortable or I’m OK and it’s going to get better, it’s enough of saying that.

“Now it’s time to do it. You’ve got to do it. You have to go out there and play the game the right way. No more excuses. You have to go out there and do it.”

The Bucks came in last in scoring at 91.2 points per game, but they passed that with 7:35 remaining, eclipsed 100 points for only the ninth time and easily handled the Cavs, who never led. Cleveland hasn’t won since Dec. 18 and there’s no easy games on the upcoming schedule.

The Cavs visit Chicago today and New Jersey on Monday. The Nets are the only team with a losing record Cleveland will face the rest of this month. After the Nets, the Cavs play at Boston, Denver at home, at Orlando and Miami.

The Cavaliers haven’t won on the road since Nov. 9 at New Jersey.

“We have to play harder. We have to play smarter. And, we have to be tougher,” coach Byron Scott said. “That’s the bottom line.”