CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers shook off their emotional hangover just in time.
Two nights after Donovan Mitchell’s historic performance, Cleveland looked exhausted and listless for most of the game. But as they have throughout the season, the Cavs kept fighting and found a way in the fourth quarter, beating the declining Phoenix Suns, 90-88. Phoenix has lost four straight and seven of the last eight. Cleveland has now won three in a row.
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The Cavs missed nine straight shots to open the game. They didn’t score their first basket until 5:38 into the first quarter. They went 0 of 14 from a 3-point range to start. Had just 33 points on 28.9% shooting and 15.8% from 3-point range in a hideous first half — their lowest half of the entire season.
While the offense picked up a bit in the second half, the Cavs won Wednesday’s game on the defensive side of the floor – staying true to their identity.
“I thought even though our offense was obviously in trouble, we didn’t give in to that,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said after the win. “We gave ourselves a chance because we continue to compete on the defensive side of the field. That’s what you must do.
Cleveland Phoenix kept 88 points on 39.5 percent shooting and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc. Despite being five behind going into the fourth quarter, the Cavs picked up the intensity and stifled the shorthanded Suns even further in the fourth. In those brave 12 minutes of the fourth quarter, Cleveland held the Suns to 24 points, shooting 8 of 23 (34.8%) and 2 of 6 (33%) from deep.
The Cavs won the decisive fourth, 31-24.
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It was a disappointing callback for Mitchell, who scored a franchise-high 71 points in Monday’s overtime win over Chicago, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to join the exclusive club. Physically and mentally exhausted, while being hounded by the Suns all night, Mitchell had just 20 of 6 of 20 points from the field and 3 of 12 from deep in 36 minutes.
“I really didn’t have my legs tonight,” he said. “I was trying to want myself just to be strong.”
The superstar saved his best for last, hitting a 3-point clutch with 40 seconds remaining that gave the Cavs an 88-85 lead – their first lead of the second half. But Suns shooter Landry Shamet responded, tying the game at 88 points.
On the ensuing possession, Mitchell drove left of lane with the clock running out and found youngster Evan Mobley for the 14-foot go-ahead.
Like so many other games this season, Cleveland needed a stoppage. He got it. Again. Mitchell, who correctly predicted the Suns’ final game, upset Suns swingman Mikal Bridges just enough to force a misfire at the buzzer. Mitchell grabbed the rebound and fired the ball out the other end in celebration as the best defensive team in the NBA showed up once again.
Bridges was just 3 of 15 to shoot Monday night. The Suns were without Devin Booker, who remains sidelined with a groin injury. Phoenix also lost backup guard Cameron Payne in the first half. Payne was unable to finish due to a foot injury. Veteran point guard Chris Paul attempted to take over for balanced Phoenix, which saw all five starters score in double figures. Paul finished with a record 25.
Returning from a two-game absence with right ankle pain, Mobley said after the game that he couldn’t remember the last time he had a game-winning shot. He will never forget this one.
“I thought they were probably going to send a double or they were going to go Donovan because he’s getting a lot of attention and he’s supposed to make the last play and stuff like that,” Mobley said. . “I was just making myself available, came over and knocked the shot down.
“Hopefully more to come.”
The 21-year-old Rookie of the Year finalist was just 1-for-8 from the floor before splashing the biggest blow of his young career. He finished with six points and eight rebounds.
“I was right in the moment and got the shot,” Mobley said of the jumper. “I was just trying to tell myself to calm down because we still had a few seconds left to play the game. We still needed another stoppage to steal the win.
Caris LeVert led the way for the Cavs, who trailed for nearly 41 minutes Wednesday night. He scored 21 points, including nine of the team’s first eleven to open the fourth quarter, which rattled the crowd and fueled the rally.
Little-used reserve guard Raul Neto contributed with 14, providing a second-half spark with scrappy hustle plays and timely shots.
“Extremely impactful,” Bickerstaff said of Neto. “His ability to pick up guys all over the court, get deflections, get his feet moving, keep people in front of him, be disruptive. Then again, there were times when we were struggling offensively where he found a way to get a bucket. He was huge for us.
Cedi Osman added 12, as the Cleveland bench finished the game with a 34-14 advantage.
Darius Garland missed his third straight game with a sprained right thumb – an absence that once again played a role in Cleveland’s mucky offense throughout.
Before the game, Bickerstaff called the emotional hangover “the real thing”. He knew after a momentous Monday that the Cavs would have gutted a win.
At various times, it looked like they were heading from the high of the high to the low of the low – in just 48 hours.
Maybe it was ugly. But that’s how the stingy Cavs like it. A victory is a victory.
“I wish every game we could win by 20 points,” Bickerstaff said. But the competition of having to do all the little things over and over again, of having to accept individual challenges, of having to accept team challenges, of having to give up and fight for it, it’s is the purity of competition. If you have that courage, you can find a way to do it.
Next
The Cavs begin their longest road trip remaining this season. It starts with a game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m.
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