How does a team survive without its starting backcourt and top two scorers?

“I don’t think you can,” Byron Scott said while sort of staring into space and talking to no one in particular. “I don’t think you can.”

Such was life for the coach and his Cavaliers in their 89-79 defeat Monday at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Cavs were already without reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and point guard Kyrie Irving — who’s nursing a broken left index finger. Then, just before tip-off, it was announced rookie guard Dion Waiters would skip the game with a sprained left ankle.

Waiters injured the ankle in last weekend’s double-overtime loss to Portland. He’s averaging 15.2 points, second on the team to Irving’s 22.9. Perhaps more importantly, Irving is at 26.5 points in Cavs wins, and Waiters at 20.5.

“I thought our guys competed,” Scott said. “We couldn’t score, but we did a heck of a job defensively, especially in the second half.”

via Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio