The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Phoenix Suns 129-113. Let’s see who won and lost the night.
WINNER – Playing with Intention
The Cavs have been guilty of aimlessly probing throughout the first half of the season. That wasn’t the case
tonight. They got into all of their actions quickly, moved the ball with precision, and played each possession like they had a purpose.
This was an efficient attack from Cleveland. They flowed from one set to the next, never spending too much time searching for an advantage that wasn’t there. This quick-hitting offense was a staple from last season and is only recently starting to return. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
Cleveland finished with 32 assists and improved to 9-0 when they hit that mark in a game this season.
WINNER – Donovan Mitchell
A big reason the Cavs’ offense was clicking tonight was that everyone was involved. It was truly a team effort. But that doesn’t mean that Donovan Mitchell was any less special.
Mitchell scored 21 points in the first half behind 6-13 shooting and a pair of difficult and-one conversions. His dynamic scoring, particularly whenever he was matched against Dillon Brooks, makes it easier for everyone else on the Cavs to break free.
The Suns’ defense can’t afford to send more help to Mitchell when the rest of the team is firing on all cylinders like they were tonight. It’s a snowball effect that’s mutually beneficial.
There haven’t been many games this season where the Cavs enjoyed Mitchell’s explosive scoring without it feeling like he was single-handedly carrying them across the finish line. Tonight, they found the perfect balance between Mitchell’s individual success and the team’s success.
WINNER – Defensive Intensity
The Cavs arguably played their best defensive game of the season on Monday against the Spurs. They followed it up with an equally, if not more impressive, performance (from a process standpoint) today versus the Suns.
Simply put, the Cavs were hustling.
Sprinting back in transition, rotating and scrambling around the floor to contest shooters. And most of all, keeping up the intensity even when the Suns were able to grab numerous offensive rebounds. The Cavs held Phoenix to just 2-of-12 shooting on second-chance opportunities in the first half — and the Suns finished with only 15 second-chance points despite grabbing 19 offensive rebounds. That grit and determination to end a defensive possession, no matter how long it takes, is what kept them in the driver’s seat against a scrappy Suns squad.
Phoenix might be the hardest-playing team in the NBA. Kenny Atkinson said as much before the game. So it says something for a Cavalier team that has been guilty of playing without effort to then rise to the occasion and outduel a hardworking team like the Suns.
WINNER – Involving the Bigs
Cleveland hasn’t always done a good job of including their big men in the offense this season. Part of this is due to injuries. Not only have both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen missed time, but some of Cleveland’s best playmakers have been sidelined, as well.
That’s finally being fixed.
Garland has quarterbacked the last two games to perfection. Kenny Atkinson mentioned before the game that he’s wanted his guards to find a balance between scoring and passing. That balance has been found recently, with Allen having a huge scoring night against the Spurs on Monday, and both bigs being prominently featured in the offense tonight.
Outside of Mitchell, who took over this game with his prolific scoring, shots were evenly distributed across the roster. That allowed Allen and Mobey to combine for 17 points and 5 assists in the first half. They continued to be active in the second, finishing with a combined 32 points.
