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Cleveland win’s a chippy, defensive struggle thanks to some much needed off-the-dribble scoring from Bernard.
The Cleveland Charge were able to pull out an ugly 97-91 win over the Osceola Magic thanks to 29 points from Cleveland guard Jules Bernard.
Both teams had a tough time getting going offensively in the first quarter. The Charge went 1-8 from three while the Magic went 2-11. This set the tone for what would be a messy game. Osceola took a 24-17 into the second quarter.
The inability to convert the three-point shot was a running theme throughout the game for Cleveland. Being without
Cleveland Cavaliers two-way player Emoni Bates — who missed Saturday’s game due to personal reasons — didn’t help. No one on the Charge could take the top off the defense. This allowed Osceola to pack the paint and just make it difficult for Cleveland to do anything inside.
The Charge allowed the Magic to supplement their offense by unnecessarily sending them to the line. They committed a flagrant (Nae’Qwan Tomlin), a technical (Feron Hunt), and a transition take foul in the first six minutes of the second quarter. This allowed the Magic to extend their lead to 12.
Cleveland rallied back with a 12-2 run to get back into the game fueled by seven points and one assist from Bernard in that stretch alone. This helped the Charge head into the break tied at 52.
“We needed to find a way to keep the rhythm going into the half,” said Charge head coach Chris Darnell. “At that point in the game, if that 12 turns to 20, now you’re in a hole versus a really good team. So to be able to stay connected, keep our head above water, and then go on that run really allowed us to exhale and catch our breath.”
Neither team could create separation until the last few minutes of the fourth.
Elijah Hughes, who was previously 1-9 from three on the evening, made a much-needed triple to flip a one-point disadvantage into a lead.
“Eli is the ultimate professional,” Darnell said. “At that point of the game it’s like, ‘Hey, you’re due to make one. So keep playing aggressive, keep looking for our opportunity to get them off.’”
“We was just in the locker room, just talking about it too,” Tomlin said. “He’s a pro. Pros, they take the next shot whether they’re 0-10 or 0-5, you just got to have that confidence, trust your work, just always be ready for the next shot.”
The Charge never looked back from there. Clutch free-throw makes from Tomlin and Bernard put the 97-91 win away.
This was a choppy game where neither team was able to generate any consistent offense. Both teams combined to go 14-82 (17%) from three with 47 total turnovers. This made it a grind-it-out, physical game in the paint, but one that the Charge were ready for.
“Just being honest with the guys, ‘Hey, this is a nasty game right now,” Darnell said. “We’re in the trenches fighting. It’s nasty for them. It’s nasty for us. We got to be the team that stays connected.”
Fortunately for Cleveland, Bernard’s scoring kept them together.
“Jules is a hell of a player,” Tomin said.
Bernard led the Charge with 29 points on 9-15 shooting with three assists. Cleveland desperately needed his off-the-dribble scoring considering how difficult points were to come by. Bernard provided that as he continually found ways to knife his way into the paint and finish around the basket.
Turnovers were however an issue for him, and the Charge as a whole. Bernard’s eight giveaways were a large part of that. Six of which came in the first half. Cleaning that up in the second half allowed his shotmaking to lead them to victory.
“I kind of got on him at halftime,” Darnell said. “He had six turnovers and I told him, ‘Hey, we need you to take care of the ball, but also make the correct read in the pick-and-roll. If you see space, you have the freedom to go attack that.’”
He certainly did just that. Cleveland doesn’t win this game without the 17 points he provided in the second half.
Travers had an up-and-down game. He was an invaluable rebounder and off-the-dribble creator on Saturday, but he also struggled with turnovers once again as he had five to just three assists.
Turnovers have been an issue for Travers throughout the season. Part of that is due to being asked to do a lot of the primary ball handling with a lack of point guards on the team. He has skills as a passer, but he sometimes tries to fit passes into windows that he’d be better off leaving alone.
“He’s a focal point of the other team’s defense, and this is a team that really likes to pressure the basketball,” Darnell said. “In my opinion, Luke doesn’t get officiated properly, and he gets fouled a ton, especially when he’s putting pressure on the paint. I think sometimes his turnovers should be shooting fouls, but it’s also part of his development to be able to play through that, play strong.”
Travers ended the game with 17 points on 7-17 shooting, which included going 1-6 from three, with 10 rebounds.
Tomlin wasn't able to establish a rhythm in what was a choppy game. The outside shot wasn’t falling which impacted his ability to be as dynamic of a scorer he’s been throughout the last few months. Still, multiple sequences stood out that showed how good he could become.
One of which was midway through the third quarter. Tomlin grabbed a defensive rebound, pushed it to the front court, executed an inverted pick-and-roll with the guard, dropped it off to a teammate, and then posted up the mismatch he created with the inverted pick-and-roll for an easy basket. There aren’t a lot of 6’10” players who can effortlessly do things like that.
“That’s the beautiful part of his game, he’s so talented in so many different ways,” Darnell said. “Sometimes it’s like, how do you use him? ... I think he’s just scratching the surface, He can be a handler, he can be a screener, obviously his three-point shot wasn’t going, but that’s something that I want him to continue to be aggressive with.”
Tomlin aggress with his coach’s assessment.
“I definitely think I can be way better,” Tomlin said. “I got some goals for myself for next year, and what I want to do, what I want to work on over the summer, and contribute to both the Charge and the Cavs.”
Tomlin finished with 18 points on 6-13 shooting, which included going 1-6 from three, with five rebounds and two assists.
Osceola was led by 22 points from Javonte Smart. Ethan Thompson added 15 points and eight boards.
The Charge will host the College Park Skyhawks Sunday at four for their final home game. They’ll finish up the season next weekend when they travel to take on the Long Island Nets next Friday and Saturday.
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