Beat Down On The Bayou: Cavs Roll To Fifth-Straight Win

Five thoughts from the Cavs 118-107 win over the New Orleans Pelicans

Author:
Jon Rudder
Feb 11, 2023 12:57 AM EST

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are just steamrolling opponents. Over their last five games, all wins, the Cavs have a plus-96 scoring margin. They’ve now won 26 of their 36 games by 10 or more points.

Friday night’s victim: the New Orleans Pelicans.

New Orleans was without Zion Williamson, who is expected to be out through the All-Star break after injuring his hamstring back on January 2^nd.

The Cavs had lost 11 straight in New Orleans, not winning in the Smoothie King Center since 2010, back when it was simply called New Orleans Arena. Now the Cavs’ have a long flight overnight to get back to Cleveland to take on the Bulls at 8 p.m.

Five thoughts/oberservations on the Cavs 118-107 win over the Pelicans

Cavs quick starts continue

Cleveland has been jumping on opponents early of late and did so again against the Pelicans Friday evening. The Cavs popped off for 38 points, matching a season-high for first quarter points. It marked their seventh straight game they held an advantage after the first quarter.

The Wine and Gold shot 53% (14-for-26) from the field and held a 16-7 edge in the rebounding department.

Cleveland also scored 38 points in the first quarter against Atlanta back in November. They kept the pedal down and led 73-56 at halftime. Their 73 points were the second-most in a half this season, one behind the 74 points the Cavaliers racked up in the first half against Houston on January 26^th,

A night off appears to have benefitted Donovan Mitchell

Mitchell looked like he was shot out of a cannon on Friday night. He helped key the Cavs’ hot start and dumped in 14 points in the opening quarter.

Mitchell hasn’t looked quite right recently as he’s been battling a nagging groin injury over the better part of the last month. He got the night off on Wednesday against the Pistons and appeared to have that extra juice in his step back.

Most importantly, he had his legs underneath him and shot the ball effectively. Mitchell had a game-high 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting, his 19^th 30-plus point performance of the season.

The officiating on Friday night was… questionable?

I’m not one to complain about officiating, but there were some disappointing calls on both sides.

Okoro was literally slammed to the ground in the first quarter and there was no whistle and

C.J. McCollum jumped on Caris LeVert’s back, no really, and it was ruled a jump ball instead of a personal foul.

Later in the second quarter, as time expired, Dean Wade was whistled for a foul on a jumper by Brandon Ingram. Not only did Wade not touch Ingram on the shot, Wade bore the brunt of an elbow to the face. Ingram connected on one of two freebies, adding insult to injury to Wade.

The Cavs’ once again exploited their size advantage

Specifically, Evan Mobley exploited HIS size advantage on the Pelicans. Mobley dominated from start to finish. He had a double-double by halftime with 18 points and ten rebounds and was 8-of-10 from the field. He left the game for the night with 28 and 13.

Jarrett Allen was also sensational, another double-double in what is starting to become old news. Friday night was Big Jay’s 24^th double-double and the fifth in his last six games, with 20 points and ten rebounds.

It also marked the second-straight night the Cavaliers poured in 70 points from the paint, after they outscored the Pistons in the paint 70-38 Wednesday night. The Cavs had a 25-10 advantage in second-chance points against the Pelicans.