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Cleveland Cavaliers: Five Losses That Defined the Season

By Matt Shantz

Feb 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving sits on the bench in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving sits on the bench in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Ryan Kelly (right) sits on the bench in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Ryan Kelly (right) sits on the bench in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

February 5, 2014: vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 119-108

One image from this game will remain in infamy…a nearly empty Los Angeles Lakers bench.  Not only were the Lakers on the second half of a back-to-back, having played in Minnesota the night before, they were also incredibly short handed.  The Lakers started the game with only eight active players before losing Nick Young to a knee injury, Chris Kaman to fouls, and Jordan Farmar to leg cramps.

When Robert Sacre fouled out in the fourth quarter, Mike D’Antoni had no option but to leave him in the game.  The Lakers played the rest of the game with just five available players: Wesley Johnson, Robert Sacre, Steve Blake, Kendall Marshall, and rookie Ryan Kelly, who put up a career best 26 points in the victory.

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