The Cleveland Cavaliers did what you would have expected. They decimated the Washington Wizards in a near wire-to-wire victory, winning the game 148-114.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 24 points in 26 minutes. He’s been on an absolute heater to start the season, doing his work in the most efficient fashion of his career. Mitchell had 46 points in his previous game on 15-21 shooting.
Cleveland did everything right tonight. The offense was humming from the opening tip and their defensive integrity
grew stronger as the game went on.
Darius Garland’s return to the lineup has helped them accomplish both. He brings them together on offense — and on defense, the value of having an experienced starter who’s had countless reps alongside the rest of the core four is something you can’t ignore. Sometimes, just having someone who fights hard and knows where to be is enough to improve a defense.
Jarrett Allen was another standout. He turned in 16 points and 14 rebounds, including 8 offensive boards. His energy kept the Cavs in front all night long. Evan Mobley and Craig Porter Jr. also combined for 9 offensive rebounds.
Overall, Cleveland won the rebounding battle 57-44. They dished 34 assists, shot 20-45 from the three-point line and 52-110 from the field. This was just a dominant all-around showing.
Sam Merrill continued his hot start to the season. He’s leading the NBA in true shooting percentage and showcased why in DC. He unleashed four three-pointers in the first half and even nailed a step-back mid-range jumper for good measure.
Finally, Tyrese Proctor, Luke Travers and Nae’Qwan Tomlin kept this game fun even during the garbage time. Proctor scored 17 points while Travers and Tomlin rampaged down the court in various transition plays.
The Cavs improve to 6-3 after a 3-3 start to the season. They’re finally feeling healthy and can sense momentum building. They’ll host the Chicago Bulls tomorrow night.
