"Cold" was not only an appropriate term for the weather in Cleveland on Saturday night, but it could also have been the aptest adjective to describe the Cleveland Cavaliers' 3-point shooting performance.
Despite winning 100-99 in overtime over the Dallas Mavericks, the Cavs found themselves on the short end of the scoreboard for most of the contest, rallying back from a slow start which saw the Cavs complete the night with a 7-for-36 (19.4%) performance from beyond the arc. They also made just 13 of 22 free throw attempts (59.1%), making it just 'one of those nights.'
When asked what kinds of signs were showing the 'off' nature of the Cavs' Saturday game, J.B. Bickerstaff answered bluntly: "Nineteen percent from [the 3-point line]."
"It was a character win," Bickerstaff added. "We just didn't have it, but that wasn't an excuse for the guys. They went out defensively, again, and picked it up...That's the thing about defense. You've got to be good enough that, when your offense isn't clicking or shots aren't going, can you still give yourself a chance? Tonight, I thought we did that."
Indeed, the Cavs limited Dallas to 21 points in the fourth quarter and just three in the overtime period to seal the victory, which was well-earned, given how hot the Mavericks could get from long range at different points during the game.
Dallas shot comparatively better than the Cavs in the 3-point department: 15 of 49, for 30.6%. Four of their five starters sank two or more 3-pointers, with Christian Wood leading with five long bombs swished in part of a 26-point performance - which was second to Kemba Walker's game-high 32 points (including four threes on six attempts). The team performance came without a number of noted Mavericks players, like Luka Donic and Spencer Dinwiddie.
The Cavs' best shooter from the long line was Kevin Love, who sank a trio of 3-pointers off the bench (out of nine attempts). Between Cleveland's starters, three of 20 attempts were made, but key ones were drilled at important stretches. For example, Donovan Mitchell (25 points) dropped a 26-foot dime at the 5:05 mark of the fourth quarter to cut Dallas's lead to 89-86. Later, when the Cavs obtained the lead, Evan Mobley (17 points, eight rebounds) sank a corner three with 3:09 left to extend Cleveland's lead to 93-89.
"It was very gratifying," Mobley commented postgame. "I've been working on it...it's starting to pay off."
That set the stage for an overtime that saw just seven points scored between the two teams, but the final four were scored by the Cavs - on a Caris LeVert jumper, and a Jarrett Allen go-ahead dunk with 2:01 remaining. From there, the Cavs' defense was able to step up again for what was Cleveland's fifth victory out of five overtime matchups.
"It shows who were are as a team," said Allen on the team's effort. "We pride ourselves on defense. We pride ourselves on getting stops. You can't win if you can't score...We got more stops than them when it counted, and that's why we won."
