The Cavs win their eighth straight with another impressive offensive performance.
The Cleveland Cavaliers closed out 2024 with their eighth straight win, each has been by double figures.
The Cavs bounced back from a middling first half against the Golden State Warriors—in a game they still won by double digits—to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 122-110 on the second night of a back-to-back. That’s impressive. Cleveland simply had an answer every time the Lakers made a run.
Grades are based on our expectations of each player.
Donovan Mitchell
26 points (8-20 shooting), 4 assists, 4 rebounds
Mitchell’s feel for the game has been exceptional this season. He’s shown an incredible ability to put his foot on the gas and provide exactly what the Cavs need when they need it. This was seen at the start of the final quarter.
He opened the fourth with two straight threes, found Georges Niang with a bullet pass, and then hit a layup to give the Cavs a 13-point edge. That quick burst gave them enough of a cushion to keep Los Angeles at bay down the stretch. That is exactly what you want your superstar to do within an offense this potent.
Grade: A
Evan Mobley
20 points (8-14 shooting), 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Mobley had another good offensive performance from deep as he canned two of his four attempts. This included nailing a triple just over Anthony Davis.
The outside shot has been improving all season, but this felt like the first time his opponents have really closed out hard on him. There were times it seemed like Mobey was a little taken aback by how aggressively Davis was closing out and he didn’t take advantage of it off the dribble. That isn’t a criticism. It just shows how far the three-point shot has come this season.
Grade: A-
Darius Garland
14 points (5-16 shooting), 14 assists, 2 rebounds
This was one of the more impressive games Garland has had even though the scoring numbers weren’t great. He controlled every aspect of the offense in a way that was Steve Nash or Chris Paul-esque. This included using what Kenny Atkinson calls the “Nash dribble” to attack the defense, reset, and then probe for an opening.
Garland didn’t have his shot going, but having the willingness to take off-the-dribble threes when he had daylight allowed him to have this impressive game from a playmaking perspective. This made way for Allen’s impressive performance.
Grade: A
Jarrett Allen
27 points (12-14 shooting), 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks
Allen has struggled to find his role within the offense after a solid first month. It’s not necessarily that his usage is down, it’s more so that he hasn’t played with force when his number is called. That simply can’t happen if you’re a non-shooting big who isn’t skilled off-the-dribble. That wasn’t the case against Los Angeles.
Allen aggressively attacked every time he had the ball and there was nothing Davis and company could do to stop him. He isn’t going to put up these scoring numbers every night, but this is the physicality you’d like to see him play with on a more consistent basis.
He was also the best defensive player on the floor in a game that featured three other elite defenders with Davis, Mobley, and Wade. It was an all-around fantastic showing.
Grade: A++
Dean Wade
3 points (1-4 shooting), 9 rebounds, 1 assist
This was a typical Wade game. He kept the ball moving on offense, rebounded, and played good defense. You’d like to see him be more assertive on offense, but that’s tough to do when the other four starters each took 14 or more shots.
The Cavs’ ability to switch three through five makes them unique defensively. That is a difference maker when you go against a superstar frontcourt like the Lakers have with LeBron James and Davis.
Grade: B
Max Strus
15 points (5-9 shooting), 3 rebounds, 4 assists
The Strus was officially loose for the first time this season. The chaos he created as an off-ball mover combined with the shot-making made the offense feel invincible. That said, the shot selection was a little questionable, but there’s no such thing as a bad shot that goes in.
This was a much-needed night from someone who’s struggled offensively since his return.
Grade: A
Caris LeVert
3 points (1-4 shooting), 2 assists
There were many Cavaliers who had it going offensively. LeVert wasn’t one of them. He recognized this and made room for others to cook. That’s what you want him to do in a game like this.
Grade: C+
Sam Merrill
0 points (0-1 shooting), 1 assist
Merrill has had several little injuries all season that may have contributed to him not finding the offensive rhythm he had last season. He was pulled from this game after just seven and a half minutes with a right ankle sprain.
It’s unfortunate to see another injury added to the list. Hopefully, he’ll be able to bounce back from this shortly.
Grade: Incomplete
Georges Niang
9 points (3-5 shooting), 3 rebounds, 1 assist
This was a solid night from Niang. He held up decently well defensively and provided some ancillary scoring. Simply, he did what you want your backup stretch four to do.
Grade: B+
Ty Jerome
5 points (2-6 shooting), 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Jerome plays with a level of chaos that is so fun to watch when it’s going well, but baffling when it isn’t. The 25-foot pullup make followed by the outrageous 30-foot jumper that missed everything in the second quarter is a good example of that.
This wasn’t a great showing, but he did move the ball well in his minutes. So, it wasn’t all bad.
Grade: C