The Cleveland Cavaliers were riding high with a three-game home winning streak before last night's game. The victories included some impressive individual play and the struggles of the past were beginning to be an afterthought.

Well, that home winning streak ended last night and so did the Cavs' recent good fortune. More bad news followed the game.

"Michael Doleac has some type of fracture [in his left foot]," said Cavaliers coach John Lucas. "That's just what we needed. We're already short-handed."

Doleac, who last played on Nov. 21, will undergo further examination today and his status should be determined then. Meanwhile, the Cavs will use today to lick their wounds from last night's 105-96 loss to the Atlanta Hawks before a crowd of 11,201 at Gund Arena.

It was a game where the Cavs (5-11) had so much control that they led by 13 in the first quarter and 11 in the second. It wasn't the same Cavs team that held on and held back Washington's late run on Tuesday. Last night's team could only watch Emanual Davis and Toni Kukoc drain 3-pointers and nail key baskets down the stretch.

The frustration led Lucas to pounding on the scorer's table and yelling at members of his team during the final 30 seconds.