The Cavaliers stay hot despite the frigid temperature outside.
The shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers proved to be too much as they outscored the Phoenix Suns 118-92 to improve their record to 36-6. They were led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland who continue to show they can play their best together.
The Suns kept the game close for much of the first half, but the Cavs pulled away with an extended 23-14 run in the second quarter to give them a 13-point advantage at the break. Cleveland then opened the third quarter on an 11-6 run to create separation. The Cavs used that momentum to make this game uncompetitive for the majority of the second half.
There wasn’t one Cavalanche that opened this one up. It was just a consistent run of better basketball.
Garland continues to play with an understanding of his game and role within the offense that has significantly elevated his game ba. That was on display as he took turns knifing through the defense and shooting over them depending on the situation. The Suns simply had no way of stopping him. He finished with 16 points on 6-13 shooting with 7 assists.
That theme carried over to how they defended much of Cleveland’s role players, as well. Max Strus made the most of his first start of the season with Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert, and Evan Mobley out of the lineup as he drained a pair of threes at the start of the second half to start to create separation. He provided 9 points on 3-8 shooting in 21 minutes.
Jarrett Allen did a good job of taking advantage of Phoenix’s smaller front line as he consistently found ways to impact the game on both ends of the floor. This was seen on the stat sheet as he finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Mitchell led both teams in scoring with 33 points, but it wasn’t his most efficient game as he went 11-25 from the field. This continues a string of not having the most efficient scoring nights. That said, the Cavs still benefited from his activity in this lopsided victory.
The Cavaliers were just a step above a Suns team that has continually struggled to figure out how their best players work together. Kevin Durant led Phenix with 23 points. Devin Booker supplied 15 points on 6-14 shooting.
Cleveland continues to win with their depth as they were missing three rotation players. Kenny Atkinson still ran with a ten-man rotation despite the injuries and they were better off for it as they got key contributions from Tristan Thompson, Jaylon Tyson, and Sam Merrill.
Cleveland will head back out on the road as they take on the Houston Rockets on Wednesday and then head to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers.