Cavs Survive Scare, Win 117-115 Over Spurs

Photo via Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Oh. –  The Cavs were starting to think about Paris. It was clear. Coach JB Bickerstaff said as much in his postgame remarks “I thought we got looks that we wanted, we just didn’t make the looks. I take responsibility, I just think there was a lot of stuff going on around this game and then in preparation for what’s next we just took an early exit.”

 

The game was in hand until a late push. But the reality is, the Cavs were once again really good for about 38 minutes. Jarrett Allen continues to show that he is an All Star finishing with 29 and 16 boards. It was his 7^th straight double double.

OH MY. JARRETT ALLEN. 😳 #LetEmKnow

VOTE JA: https://t.co/RVkCQp2JNa pic.twitter.com/oymwPdmhX1

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 7, 2024

Teammates are finding Allen and at times Allen is featured. Allen, who is ALWAYS smiling said after the game “I’m happy they trust me. When you’re down two people, someone needs to step up and it was my turn to step up.” But it’s not just been tonight. Allen has stepped up over the last 11 games now. He has strengthened his All-Star case even more by playing well against Spurs rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama.

CARIS LEVERT AT THE BUZZER… AGAIN‼️ #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/54sT8vJ8hj

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 7, 2024

 

Wemby still finished the game with 24 and 9, with 5 blocks. But Allen outplayed him and got a crucial block late in the game on the 7’5” rookie. Allen, Donovan Mitchell, and Caris Levert all spoke about how long Wemby is and you don’t realize it until you play against him. But all of them were impressed with what Wemby is doing and what he did tonight. Mitchell said, “You can tell he’s young, but he’s as advertised.”

But tonight isn’t about Wemby. It’s about the Cavs pulling out a win and heading to Paris on a three-game winning streak. Yes, these wins have come against 2 of the worst teams in the league, but over the last 11 the Cavs are 8-3. It’s been 11 games without Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. The team is staying afloat. They are doing it with unsung heroes. Not just Mitchell who is Cleveland’s superstar. But Allen, or Sam Merrill who scored 18 in the first half with 5 threes. Caris Levert stepped up and had 23 tonight. This is a team effort. And if this team continues to play this way, even when they get healthy, this can be a special season with all the goals still in front of the team. Stay tuned.