Utah
Cavs lose to floundering Utah Jazz in Kevin Love’s latest return, 123-112
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Emotion filled the arena Monday night.
Love. Appreciation. Nostalgia. Joy. Excitement.
But by the end of the game, there was an overriding feeling: Disappointment. Perhaps even anger.
The enigmatic Cavs lost to the reeling Utah Jazz, 123-112, at Rocket Arena. Cleveland is now just 2-3 in its last five games.
“They came in and just outplayed us,” Donovan Mitchell said. “But we are at fault as well for not coming out ready to go.”
Fresh off quite possibly their best and most complete win of the season, the Cavs spoke about playing more like themselves, looking like the contender so many expected at the beginning of the season.
So much for that.
The Jazz entered the night losers of six of the last seven. They were days removed from a 55-point rout.
And, yet the Cavs went down 12-2 in the first four-plus minutes. It was 21-4 around the midway point of the first quarter.
That’s when franchise legend Kevin Love, playing just his second game in Cleveland since an unceremonious buyout in 2023, received a warm embrace complete with a sentimental video tribute.
Shortly after that special moment, which led to Love getting a standing ovation and pointing to his ring finger — a nod to the 2016 championship — the 18-year NBA veteran checked into the game for the Jazz.
Another round of applause.
The Cavs welcomed him back by going on a 10-2 run, trimming the Jazz lead back to single digits. But that surge short-circuited. By the end of those mostly lifeless 12 minutes, heavily favored Cleveland was down by a dozen.
The Cavs awoke in the second quarter, seemingly overwhelming the 25-loss Jazz and outscoring them 40-20, securing an eight-point halftime advantage.
But Utah regrouped, pulling even three minutes into the third quarter and then leading by four going into the fourth. It was up by double digits with about nine minutes remaining and the Cavs only got as close as six before the Jazz stifled every comeback attempt, closing out the game with relative ease.
Cleveland, which trailed for nearly 38 minutes Monday night, didn’t lead at any point in the final 17:15.
As the final minutes ticked away, boos started trickling through the crowd. It’s been the soundtrack to this up-and-down season.
Another inexplicable and inexcusable loss.
“I think it’s the psychology of sports,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said following the loss. “I think they took one on the chin — a tough, tough defeat, and they came in here desperate. We scored 146 points against Minnesota, get a little on your high horse, which you have no right to do, and sometimes the psychology of this is the most important thing.
“They were desperate, they were physical. They won the aggressive match. I think they won the mental battle and I guess I could do a better job of putting appropriate fear. It’s the NBA. They’ve got a lot of talent out there. I think they were desperate and we just kind of played. You get your tail handed to you and it’s like that in this league.”
Utah guard Keyonte George finished with a game-high 32 points. Former Cavalier Lauri Markkanen, the centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that brought Mitchell to Cleveland nearly four years ago, added 28 points and 12 rebounds. Love chipped in with 11 points off the bench.
The Cavs were led by Darius Garland who had 23 points and eight assists. Mitchell tallied 21 points, going just 7 of 18 from the field. Evan Mobley nearly recorded a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Sam Merrill (14 points), Nae’Qwan Tomlin (13) and Jaylon Tyson (11) also hit double figures for the Cavs, who were without Dean Wade (knee contusion) and Max Strus (foot surgery).
“I think we’ve got a good team,” Atkinson proclaimed. “Games like this happen. I hate to say it. We won five out of seven. Like, it’s not like we’ve lost five out of seven, so we just gotta keep perspective.”
Before the game, it was all smiles, hugs and handshakes — a chance to reminisce.
Mitchell with the old franchise that helped mold him into an MVP candidate. Injured Georges Niang, traded by the Cavs at last year’s deadline, with former teammates that miss his leadership and veteran voice. Markkanen with familiar faces that helped resuscitate his career. Love with past mates, coaches and trainers. There were even fans who brought jerseys, asked for autographs and posed for photos with Love.
It was a feel-good night in Cleveland — until the game started.
“We gotta fix it,” Mitchell said pointedly. “Focus on the little details. When we’re in this position, we can’t afford to have the little mistakes. We don’t have the margin for error. That’s the frustrating part is it’s like, it’s there. We see it. We just gotta figure it out.”
Up next
The Cavs will head to Philadelphia for two games against the 76ers. The first is Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
A Utah physician is warning that 21 data centers in various stages of development could significantly worsen air quality along the Wasatch Front.
Dr. Brian Moench, with Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, said the planned data centers are cause for alarm. Each facility is expected to generate its own electricity using natural gas power plants.
While natural gas is cleaner than coal, Moench said it still produces nitrogen oxide, which contributes significantly to ozone, particulate formation, and smog.
“There’s no safe level of air pollution. All of it is harmful, even at the very lowest doses,” Moench said.
Moench said health advocates have legitimate reasons to be concerned about what the facilities could mean for public health in the region.
“There is a real legitimate concern on the part of any health advocates about what this impact will mean to the Wasatch Front and public health if all these data centers are built or even if just a few of them are, and that’s not to address the impact on the Great Salt Lake shrinking up and becoming a toxic dust bowl. That’s the next leg of this argument,” he said.
Moench also raised concerns about electronic waste. As computer chips and equipment become obsolete and are replaced, he said the volume of e-waste produced is something no one has yet addressed.
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UTAH COUNTY, May 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Two males, ages 14 and 19, were transported to area hospitals Sunday after the side-by-side they were riding rolled down the side of a mountain.
Utah County Sheriff deputies and Santaquin police responded to the 6:07 p.m. call. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene, in the Pole Canyon area, as was a Department of Public Safety helicopter with a hoist in case it was needed, Sgt. Austin Edwards, Utah County Sheriff‘s Office, told Gephardt Daily.
“Eventually, rescue workers were able to make it to the spot on the hill where the vehicle had come to rest, and they were able to secure the victims, stabilize the victims, and get them back down the hill again to where the helicopters were waiting,” Edwards said.
“The 19-year-old male was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and the 14 year old was transported to Primary Children’s in Lehi.”
Both were said to have critical injuries, which were not considered to be life threatening, Edwards said.
“The cause of the rollover is still under investigation, so we don’t have that information available just yet.”
Photos: Utah County Sheriff
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
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