Putting a team on the court without LeBron James may be posing a financial problem to the Cleveland Cavaliers a week into the season.
TMZ took a screenshot of available tickets on Flash Seats when the Cavs hosted the Brooklyn Nets at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday. Prices started at $2 for seats in Section 201, with similar prices around the second level. According to the site, the prices were from an hour and a half before tip-off.
The Nets won 102-86 for their second victory of the year. The Cavs lost at Detroit on Thursday night to remain winless at 0-5.
The next team to come into Quicken Loans is the Indiana Pacers (3-2), and while tickets aren't listed at $2 (yet) they're still pretty darn cheap as of Friday afternoon for tonight's game.
Flash Seats offers two ways to buy tickets. The first is to "buy now," just as you would on any other ticket site, or place a bid. For tonight's game, the lowest buy-now price clocked in at $7. The site assesses a 23 percent fee to the buyer, so one ticket would cost $8.61.
But wait, there's more that makes it a real bargain.
For a $7 seat in Section 233, a fan can get a seat and a $5 credit to use on concessions or in the team shop. So, technically, it's $3.61 to get in the doors.
Prices on StubHub were similar. The cheapest seats were in the upper corner sections 220 and 219 at $7.68 each. With a $2.50 "fulfillment" fee and a service fee around $1.50, a fan could pay more than half to get the ticket as they would to get in.
Tapping out
Karl-Anthony Towns was not having a good night Tuesday -- and he knew it.
The Minnesota center finished with 14 points in the Timberwolves' 112-105 loss to the Toronto Raptors, but he went just 5 of 17 from the field and 1 of 5 from the three-point line.
His struggles peaked late in the third quarter, when he caught the ball at the top of the key and had a decent look at a three-pointer over Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas.
Towns completely missed the rim, leaving the shot well short.
While the officials went to get the ball and most of the team walked to the other end, Towns looked at Coach Tom Thibodeau and put his hand up. He wanted out of the game.
"KAT just has that look in his face like he doesn't want to play tonight," one announcer said during the broadcast. "So, so be it."
Moliwood love remains
As the U.S. Ryder Cup team tries to move past the fallout from its loss in Paris, Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood continue to show just how effortless true affection can be.
With both players in the field this week at the WGC-HSBC Champions, Molinari was asked Wednesday to describe Fleetwood in three words. He only used one.
"Love," he answered.
That's it? Just love?
"Yeah," he followed, before adding, "Hair. And humor. But love first."
Two days later, on Friday, Fleetwood was asked the same question. Three words to describe Francesco, Tommy?
"Beautiful Italian man," he said.
Molinari and Fleetwood are currently Nos. 1 and 2 in the Race to Dubai standings.
Sports on 10/27/2018