CLEVELAND — Coming off LeBron James’ 57-point performance, it appeared the Cavaliers had finally gained some momentum.

A team that hadn’t won since its season opener proved otherwise.

Dennis Schroeder scored 28 points and the injury-riddled Atlanta Hawks ended an eight-game losing streak, beating skidding Cleveland 117-115 on Sunday.

The Hawks hadn’t won since beating Dallas on Oct. 18 and were missing five players, but the Cavaliers went down to yet another puzzling loss.

James, who had 26 points and 13 rebounds, was soaking his feet in a tub of ice water and had ice wraps on both knees and his right elbow following the game. He didn’t have an explanation for why there was no carry-over from Friday’s 130-122 win over Washington.

“That’s a question I cannot answer,” James said. “I was ready to go. A lot of the guys were ready to go. I cannot answer that question.”

Cavaliers forward Kevin Love was taken to the hospital after leaving in the third quarter with an illness. The team announced that Love, who had four points and four rebounds in 19 minutes, was treated and released.

The Cavaliers cut a 16-point deficit in the second half to two on James’ basket with 21 seconds left. Atlanta’s Isaiah Taylor missed two free throws with 12.1 seconds to go, but Channing Frye missed a 3-pointer and Dwyane Wade’s tip-in fell off the rim.

“To get a win in Cleveland is not easy to do,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “They had a chance down the stretch where they got back in it, but I’m happy for our guys. It’s a good win.”

The Cavaliers have also lost to Orlando, New York, Indiana and Brooklyn during their rocky stretch, which has included three straight defeats at home. Wade kept Cleveland in the game with 19 points in the first half and finished with a season-high 25.

Cleveland’s first-quarter problems continued. Coach Tyronn Lue used two timeouts in the first seven minutes as the Hawks raced ahead 27-11.

“No energy. The effort was pretty bad,” James said of the early deficit. “You turn the corner but you can’t fix it in one game. We just have to try and figure it out.”

Comments are not available on this story.