Clippers clamp down on Cavs late, win 119-117

So early in the NBA season and it seems every game the Cavaliers play is a well-fought affair. Sitting with a 10 point lead late in the fourth, the Cavs wilted under the Los Angeles defensive pressure and lost 119-117 to the Clippers.

 

The LA win stopped the Cavs win streak at 8 games. While the Clippers went on a 21-6 run to end the game, Cleveland missed seven shots late in the fourth and turned the ball over three times. Paul George led a balanced LA attack with 26 points and Norman Powell dumped 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter alone.

 

Cavs couldn’t pull it out tonight, Clippers defense in 4th Qt, was enough to get the Win, stay Safe Good Night

— Austin Carr (@MrCavalier34) November 8, 2022

 

 

Cavs Final Numbers

Mitchell poured in 30 points (8 threes), Mobley had a season-high 26 but fouled out in the final minute. Garland had 19 points and 12 assists but had two costly turnovers late in the game and a silly foul off the second one that brought the Clippers to within one. Allen had 20 boards and 10 points.

 

going with the flow@_bigjayy_ | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/oSD9dqPycT

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 8, 2022

 

 

With 4:37 left in the game, the Cavs held a 112-100 lead. In under four minutes, the Cavs were held pointless while the Clippers roared to take a 115-112 lead with 37 seconds left. 

 

Last 37 seconds!

 

Off a timeout, the Cavs got the look they wanted as Mobley cut to the basket for a slam off a Mitchell feed when both LA defenders went to Garland leaving Evan alone. that trimmed the Clippers lead to one. Then, as the Cavs were trying to get a turnover, Mobley committed his 6th foul. 

 

Marcus Morris drained both and the Cavs had 11 seconds left. Morris inexplicably fouled Garland who dropped one of two from the charity stripe. Dean Wade then fouled Reggie Jackson who hit his two freebies. Down four now, Mitchell then heaved a three that Paul George fouled him on!

 

Mitchell made the first two but missed the third hoping for a Cavalier rebound. He then fouled Paul George, who grabbed the carom, but proceeded to miss BOTH tosses and Kevin Love’s (17 pts 8 boards) long attempt from deep narrowly missed the basket to end it.

 

The Cavs dropped to 8-2 on the young season while LA improved to 6-5.

 

Notable Quotables:

 

JB Bickerstaff during his press conference had this to say:

 

“This is a game we should have won. We just didn’t do the job.” 

 

Evan Mobley on what happened in the fourth quarter.

 

“We just got stagnant. We didn’t run our sets.” 

 

Donovan Mitchell on the many whistles and fouls in the last quarter.

 

“We allowed them to come back at the free throw line.” 

 

“We’ll learn from this and move on.”

News and Notes:

 

Kenny Lofton attended the game.

Got a Cleveland legend in the house in LA!

👋 @Kenny_Lofton7 pic.twitter.com/04RobkCdGN

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 8, 2022

 

Cedi, Caris and Isaac were Cold as Ice. The three tallied 9 points total in 56 minutes!

 

The Cavs committed 17 turnovers to LA’s 9. The TO’s led to 25 points for the Clippers. Ouch!

 

Here are the game highlights!

 

Next game:

Cavaliers get a night off then battle Sacramento with a 10:00 PM tipoff.

 

Cavs fans in Cali? Click for seats from SeatGeek!