Cavs finally cool off as Suns turn mistakes into a rout

The Cavaliers finally hit a wall.

Cleveland opened its five-game Western Conference road trip with a thud, getting run off the floor by the Phoenix Suns in a 126-113 loss Friday night.

The score flatters the Cavs. Phoenix led by as many as 33 in the fourth quarter before the benches emptied and the math softened.

It didn’t look like this early. The first half was competitive, even physical at times, with the Suns holding a modest five-point edge at the break. Then came the third quarter. And that was it.

Phoenix detonated for 45 points in the third, shooting an absurd 16-of-20 from the field. The Cavs had no answers.

Every defensive breakdown turned into either a layup or a kick-out three. Once the avalanche started, it never stopped.

Frustration followed. Head coach Kenny Atkinson picked up his second technical foul just over a minute into the fourth quarter, ending his night early.

Officiating wasn’t why Cleveland lost. But it did reflect how sideways the game had gone.

Two issues defined this one: turnovers and perimeter defense.

Cleveland turned the ball over 22 times, which is simply not survivable on the road. Phoenix converted those mistakes into 36 points.

Donovan Mitchell finished with eight turnovers, one shy of a career high. Without Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Craig Porter Jr., the offense leaned heavily on Mitchell to organize things. It never stabilized.

The three-point line told the rest of the story. Phoenix hit 47.9 percent from deep. Cleveland went just 15-of-48, good for 31.3 percent. That alone accounted for a 24-point gap in scoring.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting, one night after torching Detroit for 40. Seven Suns reached double figures. They didn’t need a superstar performance. They just needed space, pace and mistakes.

For the Cavs (29-21), positives were scarce. Jarrett Allen was effective early before fading. Jaylon Tyson provided energy and 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. De’Andre Hunter led the team with 17 points. Mitchell finished with 16 points and six assists, but the turnovers overshadowed everything else.

This was a reminder game.

The Cavs (29-21) have been rolling. They have depth. They have confidence. But they are also thin right now, playing without three key rotation pieces and learning how fragile things can look when execution slips.

The trip continues Sunday in Portland. The response will matter more than the result did here.