Cavs continues their redemption arc by pressing Hawks, 137-115

After All-Star reserves were announced About 30 minutes before the Tipoff on Thursday, it was clear that Trae Young, who was left by the list of players who made the trip to San Francisco, was not happy with the result. He tried to take it out on Cavs. It did not pan how he might have hoped.

Atlanta drove out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, but it would keep that the lead for less than four minutes before Cavs regained the lead and never deposited control.

Cavs’ biggest first half? GROPING.

They got 14 staff, gift Atlanta 20 free throw-nest one quarter of Hawks ’63 first half. But in the third, Cleveland cleaned it up and limited Atlanta to only five free throwing attempts, while they outscored them 39-21.

In the first half, Cavs was called for 14 personal errors, enabling Hawks to go to the free throwing line 20 times, converting 15 of their 63 first half on the charity stripe. Cleveland had only nine free throwing attempts in the first half.

Cavs’ priority that entered the third period was to limit their enthusiasm while still protecting the paint. They used the 2-3 zone to help them. Thus, they held the Hawks to only 21 points to start the other half and scored 39 of their own with only five attempts from the free -throwing line.

Young and the Hawks were without several of their key plants, including Jalen Johnson (torn labrum) and Clint Capela (back spasm). Atlanta’s Point Guard tried to shoulders the scoring load but he scored Just 15 points on 5 out of 16 shoots off the field. He added 10 assists while committing two revenue and making only one bucket in the second half.

Cavs’ Three All-Stars took the center. Mitchell, who was already named a starter, had Garland and Mobley joined him as a reserves just before the Tipoff – then the trio played like that.

They combined to 66 points.

Even when he was missing Dean Wade (knee), Caris Lever (wrist) and Isaac Okoro (shoulder), pushed the supporting role crew over the edge. In total, Cavs had seven players score in double, three scored 20 or more points.

Cavs’ top-ranked offense not only shoots on all cylinders-it orchestrates a masterpiece. With 35 assists on 53 made shots, their ball movement was poetry in motion, keeping all engaged and haukene shrunk.

While the Hawks were not at full strength and will not be the rest of the season due to Johnson’s season ending surgery, Cavs continues to show how demoralizing they can be for opponents when they suffocate them in defense while effortlessly disassembling them by offense.

Cleveland got the most out of its last shot at Hawks, which shows that even when they are card -commerce, it can adapt, adjust and perform. This ability to learn on the go is not only to burn success in regular season-it is the kind of edge that defines the playoff team.

Up next

Cavs continues their three-game home against Dallas Mavericks on Sunday with Tipoff Set until at 1 p.m. 15.30 Eastern on Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.