Cleveland, OH – The Cavaliers were coming off their high-intensity win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday night straight into the second night of a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors
just 24 hours later.
It looked like a trap game, it felt like a trap game, and that’s because it was.
Because regardless of the Raptors' 8-29 record, the Cavaliers were forced to dig deep to come out with the 132-126 win.
Right from the start, the Cavaliers lacked energy and tempo. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Cavs flipped a switch, and it felt like they were no longer playing catch-up.
According to Head Coach Kenny Atkinson, there was only one reason the Cavaliers pulled through: Darius Garland.
“This is the first game all year I felt like one guy carried us,” said Atkinson. “He single-handedly took over this game. I’m just going to campaign if he’s not an all-star. I don't know what an all-star looks like.”
Offensively Garland finished with a season high of 40 points, shooting nearly 64% from the field. He was inches away from a double-double, posting a game-high nine assists.
Garland of course shifted the focus to Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen for the win,
“Our centerpiece is definitely our two bigs. The two best bigs in the league. They’ve been doing it all year,” said Garland. “See it on a big stage last night and come back, do it again tonight was really huge, and that’s why we’re so good.”
Mobley, with his 16th double-double of the season, finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. JA right there with him, saw his 22nd double-double of the season adding 18 and a game-high 15 rebounds.
The difference makers in the 'bigs' and Garland ended up being the big turning point of the game. JA dove into the sideline seats to rebound Scottie Barnes’ missed jump shot that would have tied it up with 1:02 left in the game.
Garland rallied off the energy with a 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a cushion with a 129-124 lead.
Despite the win and the offensive spark toward the end of the game, Atkinson was disappointed in how the game looked and wanted to make sure the team's defense-first mindset does not get forgotten.
“I don’t want the guys to think that’s the only way we’re winning,” said the coach, “That that’s the only way to push this thing to a championship level. You need both and something I do feel like we rely on our offense a little too much.”
UP NEXT - Cavaliers home series continues on Sunday evening against the Indiana Pacers at 6:00 pm.
Pacers walk into Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse going up against a 20-1 team on their home court.