The Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Washington Wizards 138-113. This is Cleveland’s fifth consecutive win. They have turned their season around and are rolling into the All-Star break with style.
Sam Merrill stole the show in this one. He erupted for 26 points in the first half while shooting 7-of-7 from deep and 9-for-9 from the floor. He’s tied for the most consecutive three-point makes in the opening half of a game since at least 2002-03.
Merrill finished with a career-high 32 points and 9 three-pointers. He put on a masterclass in moving without the ball and scoring with efficiency. There aren’t many things more entertaining than watching a sharpshooter like Merrill catch fire.
Donovan Mitchell was pretty good, too. He scored 30 points for the 28th time this season and 99th time as a member of the Cavaliers. This has been the best season of Mitchell’s career as he’s kept this team afloat at their worst and pushed them into title contention at their best. It’s no surprise that Mitchell will be representing the Cavs as an All-Star this weekend.
Other Cavaliers that deserve a shout-out include Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who recorded a handful of impressive steals and threw down a windmill slam. And James Harden, whose behind-the-back pocket pass is one of the nastiest things I’ve seen all season.
Jarrett Allen had 25 points and 9 rebounds, falling just short of his fifth consecutive double-double. Allen has been on a tear recently, and he didn’t even miss a shot tonight (8-8 from the floor).
This wasn’t just a dominant game against a lottery-dwelling team like the Wizards. It was another strong performance in a string of big games that has put the Cavaliers back into the NBA’s upper echelon. They are quickly climbing up the standings and will have a full week off to get healthy following the All-Star Break.
