Cavs Welcome Evan Mobley Back with Win Over Clippers

Photo via Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Oh. – The Cavs are finding their stride. No one knows how this will end, but right now, the Cavs are stretching their muscle and showing they can play with anyone. Tonight, they defeated the L.A. Clippers 118-108. The Clippers came in having won their last 5 games. The Cavs though, are 10-1 since January 3rd. And they are finally getting healthy. Evan Mobley played for the first time since December 6th and scored 10 points in his return.  Coach Bickerstaff said after the game about Mobley, “There was obviously a little bit of rust, playing full speed, and he had some turnovers, but I thought he did a really great job.” Mobley’s return didn’t stop Jarrett Allen from recording his 15th straight double double. Allen finished with 20 points and 17 boards, while controlling the paint and helping keep the Clippers to outside shots. As well as Allen has been playing, it has been a team effort. This team stays together and continues to push to remain close while beating teams that are championship contenders. 

The Clippers, the Bucks… It hasn’t mattered. The Cavs have come to play and impose their will on teams. Coach Bickerstaff has said in the past he wants the team to shoot the ball and not “ONLY” threes but get to the rim too. The Cavs scored 52 points in the paint tonight. They also made 13/40 threes. While we would like that number to be higher, the Cavs were able to dominate even shooting less than normal. Donovan Mitchell scored 14 of his 28 in the first half. He did his damage in the first in a variety of ways. In the second, when the shots weren’t falling, he attacked. Mitchell, every once in a while reminds everyone that he still is a top player in this league and he can take over games in ways other than scoring. Tonight, he had 12 assist. Playing the de-facto point guard, Mitchell has been on a tear the entire season. He is averaging a career high in assist. He is leading a team that many people gave up on when the announcements came that Garland and Mobley would be out. But instead of fold, this team has banded together and become one of the hottest teams in the league. 

Cavs had seven players reach double figures tonight. Isaac Okoro finished with 17 points while guarding everyone from Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Paul George. He is receiving high praise from teammates and coaches as they are putting him in positions to guard whoever is the hot man on the opposing team. While he won’t always give this output scoring wise, the defense is always there, and he knows its his calling card. Max Strus and Caris LeVert scored 14 and 13 a piece and George Niang chipped in 10. A complete team effort, against a contending team. The Cavs are good. Maybe… just maybe they have figured out just how good. Because getting two All-Star caliber players back… and playing like this… Well…