Cavaliers Win Back-To-Back Games For First Time Since Early January
The Cleveland Cavaliers accomplished something Sunday night for the first time since the beginning of January: win consecutive games.
With a 122-103 win over the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Cavs moved to 6-1 in their last seven meetings with the Pacers. The Wine and Gold let by as many as 26-points and held a 20-point advantage for most of the second half in what was perhaps their best road performance to date.
The win puts Cleveland just a half-game behind Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference standings as they begin a busy week with five games over the next seven days. Three of those games are against teams at or near the bottom of the East, which gives the Cavs a chance to make up some serious ground in the standings.
The Cavaliers never felt in danger of losing to Indiana. They had multiple chances to build a double-digit lead in the first half but used a 26-9 run in the second quarter to take a 62-46 lead at the break.
Cleveland jumped right back on Indy in the third quarter with an 11-4 run, but with the pace Indiana plays with and shooters on that roster, you knew the Pacers would push back eventually.
Indiana outscored the Cavs 38-36 in the third quarter and at one point trimmed the Cavs lead to a dozen, but just as they did all evening long the Cavs responded and used a 13-3 spurt to push the deficit to 20 points again.
All five starters recorded double figures, with Darius Garland leading the charge with 24 points. Isaac Okoro added 20 points with another strong shooting performance and Evan Mobley notched his second-straight double-double.
It was just the fourth time in team history all five starters scored 17 or more points.
It was an impressive road win against an inferior opponent during a season where we have seen little in the way of quality road wins. The Cavs had the chance to put their throat on the Pacers and did it.
It begs the question; have the Cavs found their edge?
Five thoughts on the Cavs 112-103 win over the Pacers.
Hot Ice: Okoro with another strong performance.
We'll start with Isaac Okoro. Sunday night Okoro recorded a season-high 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Okoro knocked down his first seven shots before missing.
It marked back-to-back strong performances for Okoro after he scored 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 from the field on Thursday night against the Grizzlies. Cavs' head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Okoro has expressed a newfound confidence with his role in the starting lineup recently.
The coaching staff and Cavalier fan base have been waiting for Okoro to unlock the offensive end of his game. It's taken longer than preferred and it's just two games, but if Okoro can continue to be the defensive presence he's always been and shoot the ball effectively, there's no reason to believe he'll come out of that lineup.
Confidence can go a long way, and Okoro is oozing it right now.
When the Cavs share the basketball, it allows this offense to level up.
Cleveland had 33 assists on 46 made baskets. Rubio led all Cavaliers with nine helpers and was effective all night while also scoring seven points and even drawing a charge on the defensive end.
It's been a difficult road to get back to the floor for Rubio, and it may have taken him some time to acclimate. But when Rubio is able to distribute the ball like he was Sunday night it makes the Cavs' second five that much more dynamic.
Mitchell and Garland each had six helpers and Mobley added four dimes. In total, seven different Cavaliers recorded an assist.
Indiana loves to shoot the 3, and the Cavs made it a priority to limit that.
The Cavs seemed content to let Myles Turner eat, but not let the Pacers three-point shooters get hot. Turner scored 27-points and had ten boards, but Indiana shot just 8-of-32 from three-point range. Buddy Hield knocked down four of those triples.
The last time the two teams met up, Indiana knocked down 19 threes. Hield and Tyrese Haliburton combined for 11 triples.
The Cedi-coaster rolls on
I originally had this slated as part of a five thoughts for Thursday night, but the Fracas at the FieldHouse forced me to reorganize, but Cedi Osman remains one of the more intriguing members of this Cavalier lineup.
Osman scored nine points in 24 minutes off the bench Sunday night.
He's had an up-and-down season. Last week, against the Clippers, he dropped a career-high 29 points in 22 minutes. He followed it up with a goose egg against the Heat in seven minutes of action.
When Mitchell and Brooks were ejected, the Cavs led by five. Cleveland went on a run to push
Thursday night Osman scored 21 points and made several nice plays including a three-point play as time ran down in the first half. But perhaps nothing illustrates the inconsistency in Osman’s game better than a sequence in the second quarter against the Grizzlies.
Osman took an outlet pass from Garland on the fast break in the second quarter and flushed a dunk, but immediately fouled Santi Aldama on the arm as he raced to the corner to defend a three.
It felt like Osman’s play in a microcosm. It was an easy call on Osman and while you love to see the effort to get back and attempt to get a hand in Aldama’s face, you have to be more under control.
When Osman is playing well, bringing a spark of energy with his ability to capitalize in transition and knocking down shots from the perimeter, he’s a valuable member of this roster. When he’s not, it’s an empty jersey.
This win was the Cavs most complete road performance.
The Cavs have been dynamite at home, but not so stellar on the road. Getting this win against an inferior opponent on the road was key. It tips off a busy stretch for the Wine and Gold where they have a chance to climb up the standings.
Tomorrow they’re in DC. Wednesday they’re at home against Detroit. Friday they’re in New Orleans before they come back on Saturday night to host the Bulls at 8 o’clock at the FieldHouse.
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