Three Reasons Why The Cavs Came Out On Top Against The Hornets

The Cleveland Cavaliers took the first game of a back-to-back against the Charlotte Hornets.

Author:
Tommy Wild
Mar 12, 2023 7:57 PM EDT

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Cleveland Cavaliers

Charlotte Hornets

Well, that one was a little closer than fans would've liked. But the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to overcome the Charlotte Hornets and take the first game of this mini two-game series between the two teams.

The Hornets held the lead for the majority of the game, but the Cavs showed up when it mattered the most. These are three reasons why Cleveland pulled off the victory.

Big Game For Evan Mobley

The Cavs were down their starting big man Jarrett Allen which forced Evan Mobley to slide up and play the five for Sunday evening's game. Playing Mobley at the center isn't necessarily out of position for the second-year man, but he's gotten used to playing the power forward so he had to adjust.

Mobley showed that he's able to adapt and was fantastic against the Hornets. He finished the night with 18 points, and nine rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field.

There was talk early in the season that Mobley may be regressing from his rookie season, but he's put all of that talk to rest with performances such as this one.

Bench Stepped Up

Mobley wasn't the only one who stepped up in Allen's absence. Cleveland's bench played a crucial role in the win. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had to play nine players against Charlotte because of JA being out and multiple starters getting into foul trouble early.

The Cavs' bench outscored the Hornets 31-17 which was led by Caris Leverts' 15 points. It is always a comfort to know that the reserves are able to show up when they're needed the most.

4th Quarter

Even though Cleveland ended with the win, they weren't ahead the entire night. In fact, they led the game for just under 10 minutes in total. The Hornets on the other hand were ahead for almost 38 minutes of the game, but let it slip away in the end.