RSS Cavs Team Notes

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Player Grades: Cavs vs Jazz – Nae’Qwan Tomlin is everywhere in upsetting loss

The Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn’t be happy about this one. Nae’Qwan Tomlin might be the only player who deserves to feel good.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell​

21 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game that he could think of at least five games off the top of his head this season that Donovan Mitchell carried them to the finish line. They could have used another one of those performances tonight.

When he and the team are this undisciplined on defense, it takes an otherworldly offensive performance to make up for it. He didn’t have it tonight.

Grade: D+

Darius Garland​

23 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds

Garland had 12 points and 6 assists at halftime. This was shaping up to be an explosive game from DG. But, similar to Mitchell, the defensive deficiencies were far too much for just an above-average offensive night from Garland.

Grade: C–

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Evan Mobley​

15 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks

Mobley was aggressive in finding his shot in Cleveland’s previous game against Minnesota. The Jazz made sure it wouldn’t be as easy for him tonight. Mobley began the game 0-3 and didn’t score his first bucket until the second half.

While Mobley wasn’t scoring, he was still punishing Utah with his passing. He had 5 assists in the first half and finished with 8 assists. That’s nice and all, but the Cavs really need him to find counters when opponents take away the deep paint.

Grade: C+

Sam Merrill​

14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Utah did a great job of limiting Merrill on the three-point line. He didn’t see much daylight with a contest ready and in his face every time he caught the ball. He also had a hard time defensively due to Utah’s size on the wing.

Grade: C-

Craig Porter Jr. ​

5 points, 1 assist, 3 rebounds

Porter wasn’t super effective tonight. It’s one of the few games this season where he didn’t feel like a positive contributor on either end of the floor.

Grade: D

De’Andre Hunter​

2 points, 0 rebounds, 3 assists

I’m done grading De’Andre Hunter. Instead, I’m going to try pleading. Please, De’Andre. You are better than this.

Grade: F

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Jarrett Allen​

8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists

This was a lackluster game from Allen. After responding well to Minnesota’s physicality in his previous two games, he folded to Utah’s bruising frontcourt.

Grade: D

Jaylon Tyson​

11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Tyson gave the Cavs a boost in the first half with his shot-making making but started to fade as the game went on. He wasn’t particularly good on defense, and the Cavs had a hard time generating offense with him on the floor in the second half. That might not have been entirely his fault, but playing in lineups featuring multiple non-shooters doesn’t bode well for Tyson.

Grade: B

Nae’Qwan Tomlin​

13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks

This was the best game Tomlin has played all season. He impacted every facet of the game, turning in an all-around performance that’s worthy of a standard contract.

Grade: A+

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...aeqwan-tomlin-is-everywhere-in-upsetting-loss

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Jazz – Worst loss of the season ends with Cavs booed off the floor

The Cleveland Cavaliers followed up arguably their best win of the season with perhaps their worst loss. Let’s talk about it.

WINNER – Nae’Qwan Tomlin​

Tomlin has injected life into this Cavalier team all season long. When the vibes are low and the energy is down, Tomlin has been able to turn things around through his hard work and determination.

Tonight, however, Tomlin did more than hustle. He showcased the full range of his skillset, scoring at the rim, blocking shots, nailing a corner three-pointer, and dishing the rock in the second half. It felt like Tomlin was everywhere the Cavs needed him to be. Tomlin finished with 13 points (6-11 FG), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.

FLIGHT Q YOU ARE CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.@ChargeCLE | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/s5w7rKEVvp

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 13, 2026

There’s still a lot of room for the two-way prospect to grow. He isn’t exactly drawing a crowd on the perimeter, and his passes tonight weren’t anything spectacular. But Tomlin is showing more than enough to prove he deserves a standard contract, and this might have been the best game of his young career so far.

I was hoping there would be more winners to talk about tonight. Sadly, our list ends here.

LOSER – The First Quarter​

Nothing is guaranteed in life. But this is one of those games that felt destined to go the Cavaliers’ way, considering the wide gap in talent between them and the Jazz.

The first quarter didn’t feel like that. Utah came out of the gates on fire, building up a 17-point lead in the first quarter.

Cleveland started the game 2-13 from the floor (15%). Some of this is bad shot luck, but their offense felt uninspired and disorganized. This wasn’t a team that was just missing shots. A focused effort would have led to better results.

The Cavs would momentarily wake up to erase this deficit in the second quarter and even take a 10-point lead of their own. But this type of disastrous opening to a game is enough to make you vulnerable against any team, even the Jazz.

LOSER – The Third Quarter​

Just like the beginning of the first half, the Cavaliers found themselves outscored by 12 points at the start of the second half. This one didn’t feel nearly as bad as the first, considering they entered the third quarter leading by 8 points and would only face a 4-point deficit on the other end of it.

Still, the Jazz shouldn’t be taking it to you on your home floor like this.

We always want to give credit where it’s due. The Jazz played a great game. But it’s also true that the Cavaliers are in a different tier of the NBA and should be frustrated that they allowed this to happen more than once in the same game.

LOSER – The Fourth Quarter​

Yeah… it was that kind of night.

For most of the game, I held my head high, assuming the Cavs’ massive talent advantage would eventually give way to them winning this matchup. I thought they turned the corner when they went up by double-digits in the second quarter. But, ultimately, that was the only quarter Cleveland won tonight.

We already discussed how the Cavs lost the third quarter. But I fully believed they would manage to erase a two-possession deficit and escape with a win. We’ve seen this team dominate fourth quarters before.

Somehow, they lost the fourth quarter, too.

Utah outscored Cleveland 33-26 in the pivotal frame. They ended the night with a 50-30 advantage on the glass. And, most importantly, the Jazz left Rocket Arena with a 123-112 victory.

The Cavaliers were booed off the floor.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...the-season-ends-with-cavs-booed-off-the-floor

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Uneven Cavs fall to the Jazz at home 123-112

Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points, Keyonte George poured in 32 to pace the visiting Utah Jazz to a 123-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. The Cavs were flattened in the first few minutes of the game, trailing by 17 in the first quarter, before rallying to take an eight-point lead into halftime.

Everything unraveled after that.

“They won the mental battle, and I guess I could do a better job of putting appropriate fear (into the team),” Head Coach Kenny Atkinson said after the game. “This is the NBA.”

“I think it’s the psychology of sports,” Atkinson said when asked about what the biggest issue was with the Cavs. “Sometimes the psychology is the most important thing.”

The Jazz, who now have 14 wins on the season, have certainly been playing better than in years past. But the Cavs were 12.5-point favorites coming into the game, fresh off arguably their best win of the season over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and appeared to be gathering steam. But the Jazz put that fire out, despite coming off a 50-point loss at home to Charlotte.

Once again, the Cavs had an incredibly uneven performance. They fell behind 19-4 in just a few minutes to start the game, came all the way back to take the lead, and then allowed 14-straight points to start the third quarter. They never recovered from that point, trailed heading into the fourth quarter, and could only stay within arm’s reach until the final buzzer.

Jarrett Allen finished with just eight points and four rebounds, and Evan Mobley had 15 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists (tied for a team-high). Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic out-rebounded the entire Cavs starting lineup by himself. The Cavs’ bench kept them in the game, led by Nae’Qwon Tomlin.

Tomlin was the lone bright spot for Cleveland, bringing his patented energy and hustle that the rest of the team seems to forget about. Tomlin ended the night with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal in 19 minutes of action.

“He plays really hard,” Atkinson said about Tomlin post-game. “He’s shooting the ball better, feels more confident. He’s fitting into that perfect role player situation.”

Too often, the Cavs appeared to either be slack in getting back in transition, fighting on the glass (they were out-rebounded 50-30), or the offense looked completely flat. Possessions would end in contested jumpers, stonewalled drives to the rim, or turnovers. They simply were not good enough, consistently enough, to win.

It doesn’t help when you dig a huge hole before the first timeout, forcing the need for a comeback. Occasionally, you will find a way to win. But more often than not, it’s insurmountable.

“When we are in this position, we can’t afford to make the little mistakes,” Donovan Mitchell said post-game. “Slow starts, a bad third quarter in Minnesota, or a bad second quarter against Detroit, we don’t have the margin for error.” Mitchell finished with 21 points (7/18 shooting) and eight assists, while Darius Garland had a team-high 23 points on a similar level of shooting efficiency.

“They were desperate, they were physical, they won the aggressive match,” Atkinson added. “We just kind of played.”

At just about the halfway point of the season, the Cavs have to do more than just play. There has to be a sense of urgency from a team that didn’t have just playoff aspirations; they had championship ones.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-scores-results/42893/uneven-cavs-fall-to-the-jazz-at-home-123-112

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs comments after recent loss point to a wider, recurring issue

Professional sports is much more complicated than the rules of the game. There are financial and economic aspects, interpersonal and communication intricacies, and of course, physical health.

But the mental side may be the most important one. It is definitely paramount for the flailing Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs were humiliated 123-112 at home to the woeful Utah Jazz, a team that was coming off a 55-point loss at the hands of the equally woeful Charlotte Hornets. It was the latest in a long list of puzzling losses amidst a season that is not only frustrating, but starting to slip away completely. On the flip side, Utah is not competing for a playoff spot, and they don’t have any pressure to win games. They are just trying to be better than their last time out on the court, and against the Cavs, they most definitely accomplished that.

“They were desperate, they were physical, and they won the aggressive match,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said about the Jazz after the game. “They won the mental battle.”

Atkinson said several times in his post-game press conference that the Cavs’ loss was due to “the psychology of sports”. Less than a month ago, he said after a loss to the Houston Rockets that he felt the game was over in the first quarter because the Cavs “weren’t ready for the fight.”

This has become a common theme, and not just this season. In years prior, the Cavs seemingly wilted when it meant most, were unable to get up off the mat after they got punched, and failed to put forth the effort needed to win the biggest games. But now these mental lapses apply to any game, not just the biggest and most important ones.

“I got to do a better job of putting appropriate fear into the team,” Atkinson continued. “They (the Jazz) were desperate. We just kind of played.”

The Cavs are now halfway through the season and sit outside a secured playoff spot at seventh in the Eastern Conference. That is a far, far cry from where they were predicted to be at this point of the year. To come out and “just play,” given the seemingly dire situation they are in as the most expensive — and most disappointing — team in the league, is alarming in more ways than one.

Atkinson and his coaching staff have to do better. This was also said about former Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who is thriving in Detroit with a roster that has clearly bought in to what is being asked of them: Be tough and relentless every single night.

“We try to warn them verbally, like ‘Hey, these guys (the Jazz) are going to be ready to bounce back,’” Atkinson said when asked about what he could do to help win the mental battle. “These guys are pros, they know the circumstances. Sometimes you have a letdown, you think it’s going to be easy.”

Verbal warnings. Reminders. Assuming that the players will just “get it” eventually. None of these have worked this season, nor have they in years past. Bickerstaff was blamed for being unable to reach the locker room, and now Atkinson is starting to be saddled with the same thing.

The common denominator is the players.

Jarrett Allen said in the locker room following the loss to Utah that he “absolutely” feels these things are correctable, but it didn’t seem firm. Donovan Mitchell was so quiet with his post-game answers that they were hardly audible a few feet away. A few hours later, the rumor of De’Andre Hunter wanting to play elsewhere started circulating. The Cavs are going through the motions of an NBA season, plodding through games and saying the same public relations speak, without having accomplished the things that give them the excuse to do so.

Cleveland is, at this moment, lacking a galvanizing veteran who keeps everyone in line. For the Jazz, Kevin Love and Georges Niang are being relied on to fill in the gaps that head coach Will Hardy cannot reach. In Detroit, Tobias Harris is so valuable to the locker room as an accountability force that the organization is hesitant to trade him despite a clear ability to improve their roster (on paper) by doing so.

Remember when Marcus Morris saw the Cavs’ locker room as missing something? Many felt this was because of the head coach lacking a voice, and perhaps in some ways it was. However, the conference-leading Pistons appear to be one of the finer-tuned teams in the league — led by that same coach the Cavs used as a scapegoat nearly three years ago.

The Cavs have already lost more games this season than they did last season, and we haven’t hit the mid-point of January. Health has certainly not been in their favor, but it shouldn’t matter against teams like Charlotte, Chicago, or Utah. They simply look like a team, as Atkinson said, that is “just playing”.

The reason the players are unable to muster the desire to play up to their potential remains a mystery, and one Atkinson may or may not be trying to find. Chalking up losses to “the psychology of sports” sure seems like a coach throwing his hands up at the problem that clearly has not been solved.

With this group, it is fair to wonder if it ever will be.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...-jb-bickerstaff-cleveland-cavaliers-utah-jazz

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

7 Takeaways from Cavs 133-107 win over 76ers: Jarrett Allen proves his worth

The Cleveland Cavaliers played some of their best basketball of the season in their 133-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Now, we’ll see if they can build on this.

This was arguably the Cavs’ most impressive performance of the season. They thoroughly dominated both ends of the floor by playing their brand of basketball.

Offensively, they were moving the ball around better than they have all season (41 of their 50 made field goals were assisted), and they were hitting their outside shots with regularity (43.5% from three).

You could rightly say the Cavs shot above their normal, expected percentage from deep on Wednesday. At the same time, it’s fair to point out that most of these shots were open due to how well the ball was moving around the court.

Analytics and expected shot value numbers are useful, but they don’t quite capture how much easier shooting becomes when everyone is touching the ball and involved in the offense like this.

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Defensively, the Cavs defended the paint like you’d expect a team starting two shot-blocking centers to. Philadelphia converted just 54.2% of their shots at the rim (12th percentile). This led to the Sixers ending the game in the 9th percentile for effective field-goal percentage (46%) and the 19th percentile for half-court offensive rating (86.5).

Evan Mobley was everywhere defensively. Jarrett Allen drew the Joel Embiid assignment, which let Mobley play free safety. He was incredibly disruptive in this role as he was able to blow up plays as a help defender and continually rotated over to put timely contests on shots at the rim. This resulted in him picking up four blocks.

It was a Defensive Player of the Year type performance from Mobley.

Allen deserves a ton of credit as well. Head coach Kenny Atkinson’s decision to basically tie Allen’s minutes to Embiid’s paid off. Allen was physical at the point of attack, making it difficult for Philadelphia to run their offense through Embiid like they typically prefer to do. This led to Embiid turning it over six times (the most he’s had in a game this season) and the Cavs outscoring the Sixers by 18 when he was on the floor.

Allen seems to be at his best when he’s guarding the premier bigs in the league. He’s had success — or at least what you can reasonably define as success — defending players like Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Allen has continually risen to those challenges and hasn’t backed away from the physicality that those stars bring.

The issues for Allen come when he’s going against physical, non-star bigs like Jonas Valančiūnas, Ivica Zubac, or Mitchell Robinson. It’s those matchups that he often gets pushed around and punished on the glass.

Why exactly that’s been the case is open to interpretation. Allen’s natural inclination to help off of his defender is something he can’t do when he’s guarding a star player like Embiid. That keeps him in a good position to get rebounds.

Then, there’s the increased focus that comes from being in one of these matchups. Allen’s energy can fluctuate more than anyone else on the team. When he’s locked in, like he was in Philadelphia, he can be one of the most impactful traditional centers in the league.

Games like this can make Allen one of the most frustrating players to watch. The talent is there, it just doesn’t show through as often as it should. In many ways, Allen’s inconsistencies mirror the team’s as a whole.

Putting together great performances hasn’t been an issue for the Cavs this season. They’ve had standout wins over the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, and Minnesota Timberwolves so far this season. Even though the Sixers aren’t as good as those teams, this win is arguably more impressive due to how thorough it was.

However, having occasional great performances doesn’t make a team a contender. Doing so on a nightly basis does.

Until the Cavs show that they can back up this performance with a good showing in their next game, there’s little reason to believe that things will be different this time around. They have to break the cycle of taking one step forward and another back.

Don’t take Donovan Mitchell for granted.

There was a brief moment in the third quarter where the Sixers seemed like they were going to make it a game. They cut the deficit to 11 with just four minutes left in the quarter, and Darius Garland just went back to the locker room with a foot injury. At that point, it seemed like it could be anyone’s game, but Mitchell had other ideas.

Mitchell responded by scoring nine points and assisting on another basket to closeout the quarter and retake momentum. Instead of Philadelphia keeping the game close, they were down by 18 going into the fourth and didn’t have a real shot at a comeback.

Being a clutch player isn’t always about making the final shot. It can also be about doing things like this to make sure that the game is never close late in the first place.

Great players find ways to impact the outcome of a game by taking over for stretches like this. Mitchell took it upon himself to ensure the Cavs weren’t going to let go of this game, and he delivered.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...land-cavaliers-donovan-mitchell-jarrett-allen

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Kenny Atkinson provides vague injury update for Darius Garland and Sam Merrill

The Cleveland Cavaliers played one of their most complete games of the season in their win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately for Cleveland, two key players, Darius Garland and Sam Merrill, left the game with injuries.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t have much of an update on either player when asked about it after the win. He said both would probably be “doubtful” for the next game, which is in Philadelphia on Friday.

Garland left the game in the third quarter with a right foot injury that occurred while fighting for a loose ball. The injury is fortunately in the opposite foot of the one that required surgery this past offseason. Atkinson mistakenly said that Garland’s injury was in the same toe when asked about it postgame. That’s good news.

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Still, the severity of Garland’s injury is unknown at this time.

“I don’t think it’s great for next game, but I can’t tell you right now…what this looks like longer term,” Atkinson said.

Garland is averaging 18 points and 6.9 assists per game with .451/.360/.861 shooting splits in 26 outings.

Merrill left Wednesday’s game in the second quarter with a right hand injury. That is the same hand that was injured in November and caused him to miss over a month of games, and he wasn’t pain-free when he did return to the lineup. Atkinson said at the end of December that he couldn’t even shake Merrill’s hand after games because of the pain he was in.

Merrill is having the best season of his career. He’s averaging 13.8 points on .470/.455/.882 shooting splits in 24 games this season.

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...am-merrill-darius-garland-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs at 76ers: How to watch, odds, and injury report

The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off one of their most impressive wins of the season as they took down the Philadelphia 76ers 133-107 on Wednesday.

Having good wins hasn’t been an issue for the Cavs this season. Backing up those wins has. They’ve struggled with consistency and have often grown complacent after good showings. We’ll see if they can change that trend on Friday.

The Cavaliers will be without the services of two of their most important players. Darius Garland (toe) and Sam Merrill (hand) will both be missing this game. The severity of either’s injury isn’t clear at this time.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (23-19) at Philadelphia 76ers (22-17)

Where: XFinity Mobile Arena – Philadelphia, PA

When: Friday, Jan. 16 at 7 PM

TV: ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App

Point spread: 76ers -2

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – OUT (hand), Dean Wade – OUT (knee), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

76ers injury report: Dominick Barlow – QUESTIONABLE (back), MarJon Beauchamp – DOUBTFUL (G League), Johni Broome – DOUBTFUL (G League), Joel Embiid – PROBABLE (abductor), Paul George – PROBABLE (knee), Kelly Oubre Jr. – AVAILABLE (knee)

Cavs expected starting lineup: Craig Porter Jr., Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

76ers expected starting lineup: Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Paul George, Dominick Barlow, Joel Embiid

Previous matchup: The Cavs defeated the 76ers 133-107 on Wednesday.

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	117.7 (8th)	115 (13th)	+2.7 (11th)
76ers	115.6 (16th)	114.4 (11th)	+1.2 (14th)

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...-at-76ers-how-to-watch-odds-and-injury-report

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs add two more names to injury report for Friday’s game vs. 76ers

The Cleveland Cavaliers had one of their most complete performances of the season against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, but it came at a cost. Two integral players, Darius Garland and Sam Merrill, left the game with injuries. The team has confirmed that both will be missing Friday’s rematch in Philadelphia.

Garland left the game in the third quarter after awkwardly falling while fighting for a loose ball. This resulted in what is being labeled as right great toe soreness in the injury report. Garland underwent surgery on his left great toe this summer. The injury that occurred on Wednesday isn’t on the same toe as the one that was initially hurt last spring.

Garland is averaging 18 points and 6.9 assists in 26 games played this season.

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Merrill’s injury is on the same hand that he initially injured in November. The injury is labeled as a right-hand sprain, the same designation as the one that kept him out for over a month earlier this season.

Merrill is in the midst of the best season of his career. He’s averaging 13.8 points on 45.5% shooting from three in 24 games.

As of this time, the team hasn’t provided a concrete update on either injury besides indicating that both will miss Friday’s game.

The Cavs will also be without the services of Max Strus (foot), Dean Wade (knee contusion), Luke Travers (G League), and Chris Livingston (G League).

The Sixers could be without key players as well. Dominick Barlow is listed as questionable with a back contusion. Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (knee) are both probable for Friday’s game.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...errill-cleveland-cavaliers-philadelphia-76ers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

3 Things to watch for in Cavs at 76ers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing their second game in Philly this week. They beat the 76ers in dominant fashion on Wednesday.

Evan Mobley​

Mobley was fantastic in his previous game against the 76ers. He put up 17 points (7-10 shooting), 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks.

The Cavs are tough to beat when Mobley is this assertive. He established himself as a threat on both ends of the floor, anchoring the defense and scoring at the rim on offense. Cleveland can control entire games when Mobley is in this type of groove.

Mobley’s playmaking is something to watch for. We know he can dunk the ball and block shots. But Mobley is averaging a career-high in assists this season, too. If the 76ers load up against him, Mobley has proven he can make the correct pass to punish them.

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Team Defense​

Cleveland’s defense might have won them the game on Wednesday night. The Cavs were connected and defending on a string — something they haven’t always been able to do this season.

The Cavaliers’ point-of-attack defense has struggled. They don’t have enough perimeter defenders to contain opponents on most nights. But, they got the job done in their previous matchup by running the 76ers off of the three-point line and funneling them to Mobley or Jarrett Allen.

Winning on the glass​

The possession battle is everything. Modern NBA teams are preaching this more than ever. Winning on the glass (or generating turnovers) can flip the outcome of any game.

Cleveland won the rebounding battle 52-42 on Wednesday. They did it through a team effort. Mobley led the way with 13 rebounds, but Donovan Mitchell chipped in with 7 rebounds while Allen and Jaylon Tyson combined for 10 boards. Allen didn’t grab many himself, but he successfully fought Joel Embiid on the glass for most of the night.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-game-previews/43093/3-things-to-watch-for-in-cavs-at-76ers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

21 stats to explain Cavs come-from-behind win over 76ers

The Cleveland Cavaliers erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 117-115 in the final seconds. An Evan Mobley dunk off a beautiful feed from Jaylon Tyson helped secure the victory.

The stats in the table below are from Cleaning the Glass.

Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	62.5%, 88th percentile	31.7%, 65th percentile	18.6%, 18th percentile	14.3, 16th percentile
76ers	53.8%, 47th percentile	27.1%, 41st percentile	11.2%, 81st percentile	18.7, 38th percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• Jaylon Tyson’s career-high 39 points led Cleveland to the win. Tyson couldn’t miss as he went 13-17 from the field. He was the only Cavalier to score over 20 points.
• Tyson connected on 7-9 from threes. He is now hitting 45.8% of his threes on 4.1 attempts per game. This is up from shooting 34.5% from distance last season.
• Tyson finished the game with a 97.1 effective field goal percentage and a 99.3 true shooting percentage. That seems pretty good, yeah?
• All 13 of Tyson’s field-goal makes were assisted. Tyson’s ability to play within the offense has stood out this season. He’s done an excellent job of moving off the ball and attacking whenever he gets an opening to do so. Tyson did that brilliantly on Friday. Everything was within the flow of the offense, he wasn’t forcing anything, and he continually made the right offensive play, as evidenced by his game-winning assist to Mobley.

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• Donovan Mitchell’s 13 points are his second-fewest in a game this season. He struggled to get into a scoring rhythm with the Sixers’ doubling him every chance they could. Mitchell finished the game shooting 4-13 from the field. This included going 0-4 on looks in the paint and not attempting a shot in the restricted area.
• The Cavs are now 2-7 when Mitchell scores 21 or fewer points. The Cavaliers have typically gone as Mitchell has from a scoring perspective. That’s why they’re 9-1 when he scores 35 or more. This game was a rare exception.
• Mitchell chipped in a season-high 12 assists. However, this was accompanied by six turnovers, which is the second most he’s had this season.
• Five of Donovan Mitchell’s 12 assists went to Tyson. The Sixers were blitzing Mitchell whenever they could, especially when they brought a screen his way. Mitchell used this to his advantage by getting Tyson involved. Tyson was able to make them pay as a scorer in the short roll and as a shooter out of these actions.

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• The Cavs assisted on 38 of their 44 field goal makes. The ball has been moving around incredibly well the last couple of games. This performance was on the heels of 41 of the team’s 50 makes being assisted in Wednesday’s win.
• Cleveland turned it over 18 times. This was eight more giveaways than the Sixers. This led to the Sixers winning the points off turnovers battle 32-15.
• The Cavs had three players with four or more turnovers: Mitchell (6), Evan Mobley (4), and Jaylon Tyson (4).
• The Cavs are now 6-1 when they turn it over 18 or more times. This stat is a good reminder that correlation does not always equal causation.
• Joel Embiid scored 16 of his 33 points off long midrange jumpers. Jarrett Allen did a great job of keeping Embiid out of the paint on Wednesday. Instead of trying to get back there, Embiid took the midrange shots that Allen was giving him, going 8-15 on long twos. Allen could’ve been stronger with contesting those jumpers, but you’d rather limit him to taking a shot he makes 47% of the time instead of one he makes 64% of the time.
• The Cavs went 17-34 (50%) from three. This was the second time they’ve shot 50% or better from three in a game. They’re now 7-2 when they connect on more than 42% of their triples.
• Cleveland’s 34 three-point attempts were their fifth-fewest in a game this season. They’re also 7-2 when they take 35 or fewer threes.
• The Cavs held the Sixers to just 61.5% shooting at the rim (30th percentile). This wasn’t a great defensive game from Cleveland, but being able to defend the rim this well is a good sign that their defense was probably a little better than it seemed. The number of easy baskets off turnovers made it difficult to judge the Cavs on that end.
• Mobley had four blocks for the second straight game. The Cavs are 5-2 when he records four or more rejections in a game.
• Craig Porter Jr. tied a career high with 11 assists. He performed well filling in for Darius Garland in the starting lineup, who missed the game with a toe injury on his other foot. Porter turned it over only once and wasn’t part of the team’s problems with holding onto the ball.
• De’Andre Hunter and Porter led the team in plus/minus (+12). The Cavs played some of their best basketball with Hunter on the court. He provided 16 points and four assists on 7-13 shooting. This was Hunter’s second strong outing in a row.
• Six Cavaliers had double-digit points: Tyson (39), Hunter (16), Mobley (15), Mitchell (13), Tyrese Proctor (13), and Allen (10).
• The Cavs closed the game on a 13-4 run. They played their best basketball in the clutch, which allowed them to rally back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit. With the win, the Cavs are 9-14 in clutch situations (games that are within five points in the final five minutes).

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...on-tyson-donovan-mitchell-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Winners and Losers: Cavs at 76ers – Jaylon Tyson has no fear and no ceiling

The Cleveland Cavaliers won a thrilling game against the Philadelphia 76ers. They couldn’t have done it without Jaylon Tyson.

Let’s see who won and lost the night.

WINNER – Jaylon Tyson​

I gave Tyson a rare A+++ in my player grades. If that tells you anything about the game he just played.

It was the type of game that’s almost hard to talk about. He was perfect, in every single way. What else is there to say?

Tyson had a career-high 39 points. It only took him 17 shots to get there, as he missed just 4 attempts all night. He was a flamethrower from behind the arch (7-9 three-point shooting) and just as impressive attacking the basket.

He capped it off with an aggressive drive and dump-off pass to Evan Mobley for the game-winning bucket.

Tonight was Jaylon Tyson's SIXTH game of 19+ points on above 70% FG this season

— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) January 17, 2026

Tyson has shown no fear this season. And, he’s starting to show that his ceiling might be higher than anyone could have predicted. This was already the sixth time this season that Tyson has scored 19+ points on 70% or better shooting from the floor. That type of efficiency from a second-year player who is also a plus defender is almost unheard of.

LOSER – Ball Security​

You can rarely blame an entire loss on one single factor. But hey, if the Cavs had lost tonight, they would have only had one thing to blame.

Turnovers were a serious problem in this game. That’s to be expected when Darius Garland isn’t there to run the offense. Still, 12 turnovers at halftime had the Cavs trailing a game they should have been winning. The 76ers finished with 32 points off Cleveland’s turnovers, a stat that should have been a backbreaker.

It takes some serious grit and determination to win a game when you’re spotting the other team that many points. Granted, Philly deserves credit for the swarming defense that they played. But also, the Cavs had plenty of unforced errors in this one, as well.

Winning can cure everything. Though I don’t think the Cavs should expect to get away with this many turnovers again.

LOSER – Evan Mobley’s Usage​

This might sound harsh, because I loved the 17 points that Mobley scored on Wednesday, but now I’m complaining about his 15 points tonight. The thing is, Mobley should have gotten more opportunities with Cleveland’s injuries, not fewer.

I understand that Philly loaded up against Mobley. They know as well as we do that the Cavs needed him to score tonight with DG and Sam Merrill on the sidelines. Mobley has done a great job of reading the defense and making the correct pass this season.

Still, it should be easy to replicate the actions that Mobley excels at running. Those side pick-and-rolls that lead into jump hooks should be available at any given time. Yet, for some reason, the Cavs consistently struggle to keep Mobley involved offensively.

Putting more on Mobley’s plate shouldn’t be complicated. He doesn’t have to be a Giannis-prototype or an elite floor spacer. Can he just get a few extra possessions scoring in the short-roll? That’s all I want.

I’m glad he got the rock with the game on the line. Even if it was a simple drive and dump-off pass. That’s the type of action that Mobley can dominate. You just have to get to the basket and find him, because you can trust that he’s always lurking.

WINNER – Nae’Qwan Tomlin Dunks​

Tomlin dunks every ball like he’s trying to rip the rim straight off the backboard. Had he played 40 years ago, he’d likely be responsible for several game stoppages and hoop repairs.

We love the intensity that Tomlin brings to the game. His ferocious dunks are instant highlights. And, because he goes so hard in the paint, defenders are learning to get out of his way. Joel Embiid side-stepped an opportunity to contest Tomlin on one of his violent attacks in the second half.

There isn’t much else to say about this. I just had to give him a nod.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...76ers-jaylon-tyson-has-no-fear-and-no-ceiling

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Player Grades: Cavs at 76ers – Evan Mobley wins it with go-ahead dunk

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a stunner in Philly. This one was equally stressful and rewarding.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell​

13 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds, 6 turnovers

Mitchell was quiet for most of this game. He only attempted five shots in the first half as Philly focused most of their defensive attention on him. Mitchell did a great job of countering this by being a playmaker rather than pressing the issue. He eventually found a small rhythym in the second half, giving the Cavs just enough to pull off a win.

I would have given Mitchell an extra letter grade had he taken better care of the ball. Six turnovers are a bit much.

Grade: B

Jaylon Tyson​

39 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds

Tyson was phenomenal tonight. A career-high in points on absurd efficiency (13-17 shooting). This is the type of performance that Tyson has replicated multiple times this season, to lesser degrees. The more he proves he can score at this rate, the more valuable Tyson becomes as a prospect. This might be a future All-Star caliber player.

EVAN MOBLEY GAME WINNER.

pic.twitter.com/nUiJpKdMjO

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 17, 2026

If his red-hot shooting wasn’t enough, Tyson also dished the game-winning assist. A cool, calm, and collected approach from a player who has shown no fear through his sophomore season.

Grade: A+++

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Evan Mobley​

15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 1 steal

I wish we could have seen more from Mobley, considering the injuries to Darius Garland and Sam Merrill. But Philly did a good job of keeping Mobley away from the paint. That is, until the very final possession, where Mobley caught a pass and dunked it home for the win.

Grade: B–

Tyrese Proctor​

13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 11 minutes

Proctor took advantage of his opportunity today. He was an efficient 5-8 from the floor and arguably should be playing ahead of Lonzo Ball, at this point.

Grade: A+

Craig Porter Jr. ​

2 points, 11 assists, 3 rebounds

Porter might not be a threat to shoot the ball, but he keeps finding ways to be effective anyway. He matched his career-high with 11 assists and grabbed 2 offensive rebounds.

Grade: B+

De’Andre Hunter​

16 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Hunter is starting to trend in the right direction. He’s been more efficient recently (7-13 tonight) and threw down a monster dunk in the fourth quarter. It took him a minute, but this is what we expected to see from Hunter this season.

Grade: A-

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Jarrett Allen​

10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Allen was fairly timid tonight. At least, compared to how he played in his previous matchup with Philly. He still did a fine job of keeping Embiid away from the glass, but he could have been more assertive on offense.

Grade: B

Nae’Qwan Tomlin​

9 points, 5 rebounds

Tomlin is an energizer. You know this by now. He threw down a couple of thunderous dunks tonight and gave Cleveland a surge of momentum when they needed it most.

Grade: A–

Lonzo Ball​

0 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

I don’t know, man.

It’s hard to see Ball turning his season around at this point. He just doesn’t seem to have any juice as a shot creator anymore. I don’t think he’s played well enough to stay ahead of any other guard on the roster right now.

Grade: D-

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...-76ers-evan-mobley-wins-it-with-go-ahead-dunk

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs vs. Thunder: How to watch, odds, and injury report

The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder have been by far the most impressive team this season. Their +14 net rating is over five points better than their closest competitor. It’s why they started the season on a 70-win pace.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, on the other hand, have been one of the most disappointing teams this season. They’ve taken a noticeable step back from where they were last year, as they’ve already surpassed their loss total for all of last season.

Despite how differently things have gone for both the Cavs and Thunder, they enter this game playing at a pretty similar level.

Oklahoma City has cooled off dramatically in recent weeks. They’ve lost three of their last eight and dropped their previous outing to the Miami Heat. Their offense has struggled recently, as they have the 14th-ranked offense over the past two weeks.

The Cavs are heating up. They’ve won three out of four with impressive wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and two straight good showings against the Philadelphia 76ers. Cleveland’s offense is also coming into form as they’ve posted the fourth-best offensive rating over the last two weeks (120.4). Things are starting to look up.

This game should provide a good measuring stick for where the Cavs are right now, even though both will be without key starters. The Thunder will be without Jalen Williams, and the Cavs will be without Darius Garland.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (24-19) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (35-8)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Monday, Jan. 19 at 2:30 PM

TV: NBC, Peacock

Point spread: Thunder -6.5

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – OUT (hand), Dean Wade – PROBABLE (knee), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Thunder injury report: Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring), Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (right soleus), Thomas Sorber – OUT (ACL), Nikola Topic – OUT (surgical recovery), Brooks Barnhizer – DOUBTFUL (G League)

Cavs expected starting lineup: Craig Porter Jr., Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Thunder expected starting lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Jaylin Williams, Chet Holmgren

Previous matchup: The Thunder defeated the Cavs by 20 a year ago.

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	117.8 (8th)	115 (14th)	+2.8 (11th)
Thunder	120 (5th)	106 (1st)	+14 (1st)

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...s-thunder-how-to-watch-odds-and-injury-report

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Donovan Mitchell deserved to be NBA All-Star starter

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t lived up to the lofty expectations they set coming into this season. That comes with consequences when it comes to individual accolades, as Donovan Mitchell has just found out.

Mitchell was wrongly excluded from being an Eastern Conference All-Star starter despite three guards being chosen for the starting lineup. The starters are voted on by a mixture of fan vote (50%), player vote (25%), and a media panel (25%). They landed on an Eastern Conference starting five of Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Eastern Conference players honored as starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game pic.twitter.com/ePSscF3xGT

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 19, 2026

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Brunson, Maxey, and Brown are all worthy choices, but Mitchell has a good argument over every one of those players. Mitchell is averaging more points than Brunson, has been on/off splits than Maxey and Brown, and he’s scoring more efficiently than all three.

Mitchell is having the best season of his career and should be recognized for doing so. He’s averaging a career high in points while having the best efficient field goal percentage (58.3%) and true-shooting percentage (62.6%) of his career.

This has resulted in the Cavs playing their best basketball with Mitchell on the court. Cleveland is winning the minutes he’s playing by 7.1 points per 100 possessions (86th percentile) and lost the minutes he’s off by 5.4 points per 100 possessions. This has led to a differential of 12.5 points, which puts Mitchell in the 95th percentile for on/off differential.

The Cavaliers have had many issues this season, but Mitchell isn’t one of them.

Mitchell will still make the All-Star game this season, but he should’ve been voted an All-Star starter once again.

The NBA All-Star game will be a United States vs. the world format. There will be two teams of US players and one of international players. The three teams will participate in a 12-minute round-robin game tournament. The two teams with the best records will play in a final game.

Mitchell has mentioned that he wants to be on the world team due to his ties to Panama. We’ll see if those wishes are honored.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-news/43186/cavs-donovan-mitchell-nba-all-star-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

11 stats to explain Cavs one-sided 136-104 loss to Thunder

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t able to get their offense going as they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 136-104.

The stats in the table below are from Cleaning the Glass.

Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	41.8%, 3rd percentile	36.1%, 82nd percentile	19.8%, 10th percentile	30.8, 87th percentile
Thunder	68.3%, 97th percentile	16.3%, 5th percentile	12.3%, 72nd percentile	14.4, 17th percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• The Cavs couldn’t get anything to fall, going 8-35 (22.9%) from three (5th percentile). This was their lowest three-point percentage for a game this season. It’s a make-or-miss league. The best teams are typically the ones that make the highest percentage of threes. Their inconsistent outside shot is part of the reason why the results have been as they are.
• This was Cleveland’s fourth time shooting 25% or worse from beyond the arc. They’ve lost all four times they’ve done so. Last season, the Cavs only shot 25% or worse on three occasions.
• The Cavs’ eight three-point makes tie their fewest for a game this season. Part of this is due to their poor shooting, and the other part is due to their lack of attempts. The Cavs were in the 25th percentile for three-point attempts on Monday. Shooting fewer threes has been a recent trend. They’re 12th in three-point attempts since Dec. 13 and 18th in January. This comes after leading the league in attempts at the start of the season. The Cavs didn’t need more three-point attempts on Monday, considering how bad they were shooting it. However, it is alarming how much the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. I’m not sure what the offensive identity of this team is on nights like this.
• The Thunder outscored the Cavs by 45 points from three. It doesn’t matter how good you are in other areas. There’s no overcoming being outscored by this much from three. The Thunder shot extraordinarily well from deep as they connected on 23 of their 47 attempts (48.9%).
• The poor shooting was compounded by not being able to finish inside as the Cavs converted just 47.2% of their shots at the rim (3rd percentile). The Cavs did their best to get to the rim. They went 17-36 on shots in the restricted area (90th percentile for attempts). But that doesn’t matter if you aren’t able to get anything to fall. The Thunder were able to pack the paint due to how bad Cleveland was shooting from three. They never could establish any kind of offensive flow.
• Oklahoma City registered a 130.7 half-court offensive rating (99th percentile). The Thunder executed exceptionally well in the half-court. They swung the ball to the open man and trusted their offensive process. The Cavs dared players like Lu Dort to beat them with their outside shot, and they did.
• The Cavs turned it over 21 times. This led to Oklahoma City getting 23 points off turnovers compared to Cleveland’s eight.
• Cleveland outscored Oklahoma City 22-5 on second-chance points. The Cavs secured 24 second-chance opportunities to the Thunder’s four. The Cavaliers did this without letting the Thunder run in transition, as Oklahoma City was in the 9th percentile in transition points off of live offensive rebounds. This is the only area of the game the Cavs excelled in.
• Cleveland’s 24th different starting lineup was outscored by 12 points in just over 10 minutes of play. The Cavs went with a starting group of Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. That group struggled to get anything going offensively due to their lack of ball handling. They also didn’t do enough defensively to make it work. I understand and even agree with the reasoning behind this group. It just didn’t work.
• The Cavs are 2-8 when Mitchell scores 21 or fewer points in a game he plays. The Cavs have gone as Mitchell has from a scoring perspective this season. When he scores more than 35, they usually win. When he scores 21 or fewer, they almost always lose.
• Mitchell shot just 27.8% from the field. It was his third-worst shooting percentage for a game this season. Similar to his scoring numbers, the Cavs are 2-6 when he shoots under 40% from the field.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...xplain-cavs-one-sided-136-104-loss-to-thunder

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs show they’re nowhere near title contention after embarassing loss to Thunder

CLEVELAND — Last January, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win over the Oklahoma City Thunder seemed to signal the arrival of a new era. It was an official announcement to the league that their team, powered by two undersized, dynamic guards and defensive-oriented bigs, wasn’t just a gimmick. They teased that they could win on the biggest stage and just needed to wait until the spring to officially prove it.

Looking back a year later, after the Thunder humiliated the Cavs with a 32-point beatdown on Monday, it’s fair to wonder if that Jan. 2025 win wasn’t the arrival of the core-four era, but the high point before the gradual, steady decline.

The difference between the Thunder and Cavs from a talent standpoint was stark. Cleveland had one player in their starting lineup who could break down the defense off-the-dribble and very few reliable shooters around him. The Thunder dared Cleveland’s bigs — Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — to beat them inside, which they couldn’t consistently do.

Defensively, the Thunder showed what a team that prioritizes that end of the floor should look like. They were consistently in passing lanes forcing turnovers, and made it incredibly difficult to finish anything at the rim. This stood in contrast to a Cavs team that was forced to cheat off of one of Oklahoma City’s weaker shooters to make good contests at the rim. This came back to bite them as the Thunder converted nearly 50% of their three-point attempts.

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In many ways, the Thunder were the complete, defensive-first, well-oiled machine led by an MVP candidate guard and dynamic, modern big that the Cavs were hoping to be when they first put this core together four years ago.

Last year, it felt like that was a possibility. This season, it seems like a fantasy. Where did the Cavs go wrong?

The Thunder have a style of play they want to enforce every time they go on the court, regardless of who’s in the lineup. That’s instilled through years of targeting guys who have certain physical and mental traits. And once those players are in the organization, they’re meticulously taught how to fit into that system.

The Cavs, conversely, don’t have a certain type of player or style that they’ve targeted. Their core four players of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen were each brought in on moves that targeted the best available player. There wasn’t a shared skill or personality trait that led to them eventually becoming Cavaliers.

Acquiring talent was the number one goal of a front office. From that perspective, Cleveland’s has been successful. Figuring out how to get that talent to play a cohesive style has been a much more difficult process.

The Cavs went all in on defense, anchored by their oversized front court and hard-nosed coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Then, they found out defense wasn’t enough as their offense fell flat in their 2023 playoff series loss to the New York Knicks. They then pivoted to prioritize the offensive side of the ball with shooters that summer in Max Strus, Georges Niang, and Ty Jerome.

The Cavaliers took another step towards being an offensive team by hiring head coach Kenny Atkinson in 2024. He transformed Cleveland into a movement-based offense that prioritized the three-ball. This worked, until they fell in the playoffs to the Indiana Pacers.

Instead of continuing down that path, Cleveland pivoted again by trying to find well-rounded players who can handle the ball and switch defensively with Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. Both have struggled mightily this season, but the issue remains the same.

There isn’t an overarching guiding principle about what a Cavalier player is or what skills they should have. Instead, it’s been a revolving door of different skillsets, each brought in as a reaction to what went wrong during the previous postseason.

This has culminated in this current team that hasn’t found an identity despite being over halfway through the season. They don’t have the personnel to be the defensive-first team they were three years ago, and they also don’t have the shooting that resulted in them being one of the best regular-season offenses of all-time last year. They’re a bad hybrid of both ideas and lack the consistent principles or fundamentals to hang their hat on anything.

The Cavs still have time to right the ship. There’s enough talent on the roster — when healthy — to climb the standings over the back-half of the season and make a postseason run. But there presumably isn’t enough time to cobble together an identity with these disparate and underperforming pieces to make the title run that seemed possible coming into the season.

The individual loss on Monday wasn’t that big of a deal. The Cavs had their worst outside shooting night of the season, while the Thunder had one of their best. That’s generally going to lead to a blowout loss, no matter the skill level of your opponent.

The issue comes from the different processes that led both teams to this point. The Thunder, without two starters, were a team that clearly knew who they were, what they wanted to be, and were disciplined enough to execute their gameplan. Their process was flawless. Conversely, the Cavs weren’t able to function without their starting point guard, had no one who could come close to replicating that missing skill, and didn’t have anything to fall back on.

It’s easier to point out problems than it is to fix them. There isn’t a magic bullet or trade that is guaranteed to get the Cavs back on track. All we know is that the gap between the reigning champs and the team that was on their level at this time last season is wider than it’s been in years. And the Cavs are running out of time to close it.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...iers-okc-thunder-donovan-mitchell-evan-mobley

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs at Hornets: How to watch, odds, and injury report

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to bounce back from a one-sided loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday afternoon when they take on the Charlotte Hornets. Even though the Hornets don’t have an impressive record, they’ve been playing well lately.

The Hornets come into this game with the fourth-best net rating over the past two weeks. That’s partially juiced by a 55-point win over the Utah Jazz. But it’s also a reflection of how good they’re playing right now. The offense has been good all season, but they’ve taken another step forward with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Kneuppel.

The Cavs’ defense will have its hands full trying to slow down Charlotte’s dynamic offense.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (24-20) at Charlotte Hornets (16-27)

Where: Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC

When: Wed., Jan. 21 at 7 PM

TV: ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App

Point spread: Cavs -2.5

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – OUT (hand), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Hornets injury report: PJ Hall – OUT (G League), Liam McNeeley – OUT (G League), Mason Plumlee – OUT (groin), Antoni Reeves – OUT (G League), Tidjane Salaun – PROBABLE (achilles), KJ Simpson – OUT (hip)

Cavs expected starting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Hornets expected starting lineup: LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate

Previous matchup: The Cavs defeated the Hornets 139-132 on Dec. 22

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	117.3 (10th)	115.2 (15th)	+2.1 (12th)
Hornets	117.4 (9th)	117.6 (20th)	-0.2 (16th)

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...t-hornets-how-to-watch-odds-and-injury-report

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

3 Things to watch for in Cavs at Hornets

The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing their third game of the season against the Charlotte Hornets. They are 1-1 in their season series so far. Let’s take a look at what we should keep our eyes on tonight.

3PT Shooting​

Last season, the Cavs were one of the top three-point shooting teams in the NBA. I’d argue that high-volume shooting and crisp ball movement were their identity. Now? Not so much.

Cleveland has gradually gone away from the three-point line after leading the league in attempts by a wide margin to start the season. The Cavs are now third in three-point attempts per game this season and have fallen to 13th over their last 15 games.

This is largely because the team has lost much of its three-point talent. Darius Garland, Sam Merrill and Max Strus haven’t been available. Ty Jerome, Caris LeVert, and Georges Niang are no longer on the roster. It’s hard to replicate last season when it simply isn’t the same roster.

That said, I’d like to see the Cavs re-establish themselves as a three-point shooting team. You don’t abandon the identity that made you a 64-win team last season just because the roster has changed. You stick to a process and figure out how to make it work.

Energy and Effort​

I wish this weren’t such a theme this season, but it’s worth keeping an eye on. We might know the outcome of this game in the opening minutes.

Does it look like the Cavs are playing focused, high-effort basketball? Then they’ll win this game easily. But if we get to the second quarter and the team is disorganized, then get ready for a long night.

To their credit, Cleveland has been much more locked in than before. They’ve begun to turn their season around recently, even if a 32-point loss to the Thunder might make you feel otherwise. I have a reasonable amount of faith that the Cavs will approach this game with the appropriate energy.

Evan Mobley’s Usage​

I’m going to make this last one simple. Evan Mobley, we need you to score 20+ points tonight. Or at least try to.

The Cavs have lacked offensive firepower this season. And, without Garland again in this matchup, they don’t have many options to turn to. There’s no reason why Mobley shouldn’t be thrust back into the spotlight and expected to carry them with his scoring.

Evan Mobley's FGAs have steadily dropped each month this season

OCT: 14.8 FGAs per game
NOV: 13.5 FGAs per game
DEC: 12.8 FGAs per game
JAN: 12.0 FGAs per game

— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) January 20, 2026

Cleveland experimented with Mobley’s usage earlier in the season but quickly pulled the plug. That’s not good enough. This team doesn’t reach its ceiling if they don’t push Mobley out of his comfort zone. It’s a two-way street, of course. But an aggressive scoring game from Mobley is long overdue at this point.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-game-previews/43251/3-things-to-watch-for-in-cavs-at-hornets

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Player Grades: Cavs vs Hornets – Cleveland outlasts Charlotte in shaky offensive performance

The first home game back after a long road trip can be difficult, as the Charlotte Hornets showed. They came out flat and couldn’t make outside shots as they scored just 32 points in the first half. The Cleveland Cavaliers took advantage of this as they took a 24-point advantage into the break.

The roles were reversed in the second half. The Cavs couldn’t make anything offensively over the final two quarters, which allowed Charlotte back into the game. The Hornets won the second half by 17, but the Cavs were still able to hang on to a less-than-inspiring 94-87 victory.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. A “B” grade would be an average performance for a particular player.

Donovan Mitchell​

24 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 8 turnovers

Mitchell struggled to take care of the ball, which is the last thing you want your starting point guard to do. He committed eight of the team’s 21 turnovers and was a large reason why the Cavs struggled in that area so much.

The scoring didn’t counterbalance the lack of ball security. Mitchell had an uncharacteristically inefficient night. He connected on just two of his eight three-point attempts and went 6-12 on shots inside the arc. Needing 20 shots to get to 24 points against a poor Charlotte defense isn’t what we’ve come to expect from Mitchell this season.

This was far from his best game.

Grade: D+

Jaylon Tyson​

14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

This wasn’t Tyson’s most efficient scoring night, but he showed up when the Cavs needed him to. Seven of his 14 points came in the fourth quarter when the game was getting away from them. That’s incredibly helpful, even if this wasn’t his best night shooting as he went 1-9 from three and 6-17 from the floor.

Grade: C+

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Evan Mobley​

14 points, 14 rebounds, 0 assists

This was a tale of two halves.

Mobley absolutely dominated the first two quarters. He exposed nearly every offensive mismatch that came his way by aggressively driving to the basket. And even when he didn’t have a mismatch, he drove to the basket with ease against a smaller Hornets front court. This led to Mobley going 5-6 on shots in the restricted area in the first half.

That aggressiveness carried over to the defensive end as well. Mobley was disruptive in passing lanes and dominant on the glass as he grabbed 11 rebounds in the first half.

Then, that offensive effectiveness and aggression just went away. He scored only one point in the second half on just two attempts. And while Mobley was still great defensively, he wasn’t the All-NBA level player he was in the first half.

Games like this underline how frustrating the Mobley experience has been this season. Yes, the Hornets were packing the paint much more in the second half, but that isn’t an excuse for just disappearing on that end. Someone with his talent should be a helpful offensive player against a front line that is this inept defensively.

Grade: C

Tyrese Proctor​

5 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists

Proctor just looks like an NBA player when he’s on the court. He competed well on the defensive end and isn’t afraid to take threes when he has an opportunity to do so. Both are things you want him to do, but the shot needs to be more consistent. Proctor went just 1-4 from beyond the arc on Wednesday. It’s easy to envision him becoming an incredibly useful player once his three-point shot becomes more consistent.

Grade: C

Craig Porter Jr. ​

7 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks

Head coach Kenny Atkinson has compared Porter to a power forward before. A game like this shows why it’s a good comparison, and why that might be a problem.

Porter had two blocks on seven-footers on Wednesday. It’s incredibly valuable to have ancillary rim protection from the point-guard position, and that shouldn’t be overlooked.

At the same time, you need your second-string point guard — and really the only point guard who saw minutes on Wednesday with the injury to Darius Garland and Lonzo Ball not playing this game — to do point guard things.

Porter hasn’t consistently done that. He hit two threes, but was mostly a non-factor on that end. He wasn’t able to create separation off-the-dribble, and had as many assists as turnovers (two).

Grade: C

De’Andre Hunter​

4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist

This was a weird game for Hunter. He came out aggressively by being an impactful rebounder and did a good job of getting into the chest of his opponent. However, this aggressiveness led to Hunter picking up three personal fouls in the first quarter.

Hunter then took his foot off the gas and was a complete non-factor for the rest of the game. He went 1-6 from the floor and had four turnovers. This led to him playing just a little over 13 minutes.

Grade: F

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Jarrett Allen​

12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks

Allen had a solid game. He did a good job as an interior defender and provided some much-needed scoring inside.

Grade: B

Nae’Qwan Tomlin​

6 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists

Tomlin’s three-point shot is by far the worst part of his game. You want him to work on that skill and be comfortable taking that shot when he’s open. At the same time, you’d also prefer if he didn’t put himself in a position where he had to take three-pointers as often as he does. Maybe spotting up at the corner isn’t the best place to be.

That complaint aside, Tomlin was disruptive on the glass with seven offensive rebounds. He made an impact with his hustle and energy in that department, which is what he’s on the floor to do.

Grade: B

Larry Nance Jr.​

5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist

Nance is good at a lot of little things that could help this team. His screening, effectiveness running dribble handoffs, disruption in passing lanes, offensive rebounding, and his passing ability are all examples of things Nance can do well that the Cavs could use more of at his position. There’s a reason he finished the game as a +14, which was the highest mark for a Cavalier reserve.

This game also showcased why he hasn’t been in the lineup often. Nance was hesitant to take open threes and couldn’t get inside and finish at the rim as effectively as he did in the past. If he’s going to be in the lineup more, he needs to showcase the outside shooting he did last season with the Atlanta Hawks.

Still, this was a good and encouraging showing.

Grade: A-

Dean Wade​

4 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists

This was a typical Wade game. He provided good defense, grabbed rebounds, and moved the ball on offense. That’s all you want him to do.

Additionally, I didn’t know Wade could finish a layup off a Euro step. That bumps his grade up half a letter.

Grade: B

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...-cavs-vs-hornets-donovan-mitchell-evan-mobley

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Winners and Losers: Cavs at Hornets – Evan Mobley dominates then disappears in Charlotte

The Cleveland Cavaliers gave us all a scare with a 94-87 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Let’s see who won and lost the game.

WINNER – Evan Mobley’s First Half​

This was a tale of two halves for Mobley.

Mobley had the highest scoring game of his career last season when he hung 41 points on the Hornets. He didn’t replicate that scoring outburst tonight, mainly because he totally disappeared in the second half, but he had the confidence and demeanor of a player who could get whatever he wanted in the first half.

The first half was the Mobley show. He opened the game with a pair of aggressive drives and had a double-double before the end of the second quarter. This block leading into a spinning dunk tells you everything you need to know. Mobley was everywhere.

Maybe Mobley just needs to play every game in Charlotte? pic.twitter.com/znMFLNSZm8

— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) January 22, 2026

How Mobley scored those points in the first half is important.

Elite NBA players understand where their comfort zones are and how to reach them. The best scorers will relentlessly work to hit their sweet spots. Think of Nikola Jokic with his back to the basket, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting to the mid-range fallaway.

Mobley might not be in the same class offensively as SGA or Jokic. But he’s talented enough to have certain spots on the floor where he can dominate. Space out and get Mobley the ball moving downhill. That’s a blueprint that’s easy enough to follow. When you steer the offense in that direction, all that’s left is for Mobley to seize the opportunity. He did so in the first and second quarters.

And then the second half happened…

LOSER – That Second Half​

Do you like turnovers? How about unfocused offense and blown defensive rotations?

The Cavs took everything that worked in the first half and tossed it out the window during the second half. We knew the Hornets would make a run at some point. Every NBA team does. But this game had no business being a nail-biter during the fourth quarter. Not when Cleveland already had the answers to the test.

Mobley had 13 points in the first half. He had just 1 point on two attempts in the second. It’s a trend that’s become all too familiar (and incredibly frustrating).

But it was more than Mobley. The Cavs became a turnover machine in the second half. Careless passes, forced entries. Just a general lack of focus that’s hard to explain when the team had looked totally dialed in for the first 24 minutes. The Cavs finished with 20+ turnovers for the second game in a row.

Again, I want to reiterate the adage, ‘it’s a game of runs’. You will rarely see a team dominate another for 48 full minutes. Especially not in the modern NBA when three-point shooting can swing a game’s momentum in seconds. So, it’s worth keeping this in mind when looking at the big picture, considering Cleveland held onto the win. But I still don’t think the Cavs should be happy about how much ground they conceded in the second half.

And they definitely shouldn’t be happy that Mobley became a non-factor in the third and fourth quarters.

WINNER – Defensive Effort​

Alright, now let’s get back to the good stuff.

You might not have guessed this, but Charlotte entered this game with the second-best offense in the NBA over the last two weeks. They’ve been scoring in bunches and pulling off some impressive wins, including efforts against the OKC Thunder and LA Lakers.

That’s what made the first half of this game so impressive for the Cavs, who have been 24th in defensive rating during this same stretch.

Charlotte had 32 points at halftime after scoring only 12 points in the second quarter. They’d eventually find their groove and respond with a stronger second half — cutting the deficit all the way down to four points. But the Cavs had built a big enough cushion to hang on in the end. Charlotte still ended the game with only 87 points, which is a huge win for the Cavaliers’ defense.

Effort and communication are the keys to any good defense. You can’t be very good without either one. The Cavs checked both boxes for the first half of tonight, playing hard and defending on a string. That wound up being just enough.

WINNER – Larry Nance Jr.​

This one will be quick.

Nance played his first meaningful minutes since November after missing multiple weeks with a calf injury, then earning a few DNP-CD’s since being cleared to return. The Cavs have taken a cautious approach with putting him back into the lineup, but it paid off tonight.

This wasn’t a world-beating performance or anything. It was fairly average. But seeing Nance back on the floor, and more importantly, being a somewhat helpful player, was nice to see.

Shout out to Larry.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...mobley-dominates-then-disappears-in-charlotte