The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to maneuver nearer to clinching the No. 1 seed within the Japanese Convention and contend for the most effective report within the NBA after they host the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday in a late-season interconference sport.
The Cavaliers (58-14) nonetheless have loads for which to play. Cleveland has clinched the Central Division however are simply 5 video games away from the surging Boston Celtics for the highest spot within the East with 10 video games left within the common season. The Cavaliers will start play on Thursday two video games behind Oklahoma Metropolis for the most effective report within the league.
Cleveland’s most up-to-date contest was a 122-111 win at Portland on Tuesday, because the Cavaliers gained their second straight outing after a season-worst four-game shedding streak. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 27 factors within the win whereas Ty Jerome added 25 factors off the bench and Evan Mobley racked up 21 factors and 12 rebounds.
The Cavaliers performed with out star guard Donovan Mitchell, who was out with a groin harm. He will probably be out there in opposition to the Spurs on Thursday.
Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill additionally had 14 factors every and De’Andre Hunter hit for 11 factors within the victory, which was Cleveland’s twenty eighth victory away from house — essentially the most in a single season in franchise historical past.
The win capped a five-game street journey — all in opposition to Western Convention groups — for Cleveland. “We’re a drained group proper now,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson stated after the Portland sport. “We have to get house, get in our personal mattress, get again on our routine.”
Garland continues to impress because the Cavaliers’ Robin to Mitchell’s Batman, averaging 20.8 factors, 6.7 assists and a couple of.8 rebounds per sport whereas taking pictures a career-high 47.6 % from the ground and 40.3 % from behind the arc. Garland was named to the All-Star workforce this yr for the second time in his profession.
“This yr is actually a revenge season, only for all of the doubters and the haters that simply counted me out from final yr with all of the stuff I used to be going by means of,” Garland defined “So this yr, you are getting a product from what all people else was speaking about final yr.”
The Spurs (31-40) journey to Cleveland on the heels of a 122-96 loss at Detroit on Tuesday. Devin Vassell led San Antonio with 26 factors, with Stephon Fortress including 19 factors, Sandro Mamukelashvili tallying 11 and Keldon Johnson hitting for 10.
The Spurs shot simply 22.2 % from the ground within the first half within the loss, trailing by 26 factors on the break and by 19 heading into the ultimate interval.
“To surrender 60 factors in a half when your offense is that dangerous truly put an excessive amount of stress on our protection,” Spurs performing coach Mitch Johnson stated. “We had been truly enjoying okay defensively and within the second half we bought a greater response. We got here out and moved the ball and performed with extra intention.”
The Spurs made simply two area objectives and scored solely 12 factors within the second quarter. “It was a tricky one,” Vassell stated. “First half was powerful — we simply could not make any photographs.”
San Antonio had gained three straight video games (tying a season excessive) previous to its loss on Tuesday and remains to be 3 1/2 video games behind Phoenix and Sacramento, who’re tied for tenth, for the ultimate spot within the West play-in sport.
The Spurs are in thirteenth place with simply 11 video games left within the common season to earn a spot within the postseason.
The groups play once more on April 4 within the Alamo Metropolis. Cleveland has captured the previous three contests with the Spurs after profitable at house and on the street in 2024.
–Area Degree Media
