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Cavs match season-worst streak with 3rd straight loss

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Jackson and the Detroit Pistons may be turning a corner, but the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't do themselves any favors Thursday night. In falling to Detroit 106-101, the Cavs matched their season-worst three-game losing streak, which they've accomplished two previous times.

Perhaps more concerning at this point are Cleveland's depth issues, which aren't going away. After Andrew Bogut's Cavs tenure ended in just 58 seconds on Monday night, the team's lack of bigs - with Kevin Love still sidelined - was evident against Detroit. Cleveland was outrebounded and outshot by the Pistons, without much support behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

The Cavs are just 5-5 since Love went down, despite James picking up the slack with six straight games of double-digit rebounding - the longest streak of his career.

On Thursday - in what may have been his final game at the Palace of Auburn Hills - James threw down an impressive dunk show all night, abusing would-be defenders like Jon Leuer and Tobias Harris. Yet, his 50th career triple-double - and career-high eighth in one season - of 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists weren't enough.

Neither were Irving's 27 points; Channing Frye was the only other Cavalier to score in double-digits, with 15.

J.R. Smith did return to Cleveland's lineup for the first time since Dec. 20, but scored just three points while going 1-for-8 from deep. And while the Cavs have shot under 31 percent from beyond the arc in their last two defeats, their bigger, season-long issue is defense.

The team currently ranks 23rd in defensive rating, and dead last in allowing 116.5 points per 100 possessions since Feb. 25, while losing five of seven.

The Cavs now sit only two games ahead of the Boston Celtics for first place in the East.

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