Phoenix, Jan. 9 (US): Donovan Mitchell doesn’t have to score 71 points in a game for the Cleveland Cavaliers to be at their best.
On Sunday night, he didn’t even have to be on the floor, reports the Associated Press.
Mitchell and Darius Garland each scored 22 points to lead the Cavaliers, but a few players off the bench helped Cleveland pull away in the fourth quarter and beat the Phoenix Suns 112-98.
“It’s one of the best things to see, because it’s different for players from different regions,” said Mitchell, who scored 71 points in the win over the Bulls on Monday. “It’s all defense. Effort, intensity.”
The Cavaliers won for the fourth time in five games. This is the second time this week that the Cleveland Suns have led after beating them 90-88 on Wednesday.
Struggling without the all-star backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, Phoenix is down six in a row and nine of 10. The Suns now have a 20-21 record, the first time they’ve been under . 500 all season.
The offensively opposing Suns failed to surpass 100 points for the fourth straight game.
“We kept the track as best we could and then we went into fourth and we just didn’t have enough to handle the defensive pressure,” said Suns coach Monty Williams. “They kept us on our heels.”
The Cavaliers held a comfortable lead for most of the game, but the Suns narrowed their lead to 80-79 heading into the final quarter. But a group of reserves, led by Raul Neto and Lamar Stephens, helped Cleveland take a 27-6 lead to start the fourth round and absorb any drama from the closing minutes.
All five Cleveland starters scored in double figures along with Carris LeVert, who added 13 points off the bench.
Duane Washington led the Sun with 25 points off the bench. Michal Bridges scored 15 and Deandre Ayton added 14. Ayton appeared to tweak his left ankle late in the game and cautiously walked off the field. He said it was probably a daily infection.
“We lost a little bit of focus tonight in that fourth quarter,” Ayton said.
Cleveland used a 14-0 lead to lead 35-26 by the end of the first quarter. The Cavs led 57-54 at the break after shooting 60% from the field.
Mitchell returns to Utah
Mitchell returns to Utah on Tuesday night.
He was a three-time Jazz All-Star during his five-year tenure that was moderately successful, but also full of drama. Mitchell’s teammate and fellow All-Star teammate Rudy Gobert don’t seem quite alike.
Mitchell said he wasn’t sure how the Utah crowd would react to his return. He was traded to Cleveland in September for Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, and a group of picks.
“We did a lot of great things there,” Mitchell said. “Obviously we didn’t achieve our ultimate goal. I don’t know what the response will be, I hope there will be a lot of positives despite not winning the championship. It’s not easy. Only one team does it. We had five notches in it and we missed it.
“At the end of the day, they are playing well. Lowry is playing out of his mind. They have a great group there, great coaches. For me, we just have to get another win on the road.”
Tip-ins
Cavaliers: Mitchell is back in the lineup after missing Friday’s game against the Nuggets. … Garland was dealing with a sprained right thumb but still played. ,,, Shot 57.7% from the field.
Suns: Paul (hip), Booker (groin), Cameron Payne (foot), forward Cam Johnson (knee) out. … made 8 of 12 three-pointers (66.7%) in the first half. … hosted a 47th consecutive sold-out crowd.
next one
Cavaliers: In Utah on Tuesday.
Sun: At Golden State on Tuesday.