IT after yet another Cavs loss: We stop playing as a team when adversity hits

Isaiah Thomas feels the Cleveland Cavaliers aren't reacting appropriately when their backs are up against the wall.

Despite carrying a 16-point lead heading into the second half Tuesday, the Cavaliers were ultimately dismantled by the Orlando Magic, who responded with a 41-point third quarter on the way to a 116-98 win. Aside from LeBron James, who finished with 25, no one else on the Cavaliers finished with more than 12 points, including Thomas, who shot 3-of-13 from the field (1-of-6 from deep), en route to 11 points in the contest.

With the loss, the Cavaliers have now dropped 10 of their last 15 games, and Thomas believes he and his club aren't doing enough when the going gets tough.

"When we hit adversity, we go our separate ways," he told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

After allowing the Magic back into the game in the third quarter, the Cavaliers couldn't buy a bucket in the fourth, scoring a season-worst nine points in the final frame.

Thomas also blamed the gut-wrenching loss on the Cavs developing too much of an individualistic mindset throughout the entire second half on both ends of the court.

"Guys start to go 1-on-1 on offense and then defense it's every man for himself," he said postgame, courtesy of FOX Sports Ohio. "First half, we played good, everybody was happy and we were energized, helping each other on the defensive end, sharing the ball ... and then we revert back to what makes us lose games."