In a dominant performance by the Cleveland Cavaliers, they achieved their highest-scoring game and most decisive win of the season, trouncing the Washington Wizards 140-101 during Wednesday’s NBA action. The game marked the beginning of a two-game series.
Max Strus stood out, scoring 24 points and hitting his first six 3-point attempts. Donovan Mitchell contributed 22 points in just 24 minutes, playing a key role in breaking the team’s two-game losing streak. Caris LeVert also made a significant impact with 21 points in 23 minutes, while Jarrett Allen’s impressive stats included 17 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists. The teams are set to face off again in Cleveland on Friday night.
“This is the style of basketball we wanted to play when everyone was healthy, and we’re finding that rhythm now,” Allen said. “The offense runs through me a lot, and teams have to respect my ability to pass and drop off when I have the ball.”
Allen has been in excellent form as of late, averaging 21.2 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists over the past five games. Strus praised Allen’s recent performances, emphasizing his importance to the team.
“Jarrett has been phenomenal, he’s been a workhorse for the last couple of weeks,” Strus said. “We’ve got to keep relying on him and keep it going.”
Despite Kyle Kuzma’s 16 points, the Wizards struggled, particularly in defense, allowing an average of 126.6 points per game, the highest in the league. With a record of 6-27, one of the worst in the NBA, they have not won back-to-back games since late February and early March 2023. Daniel Gafford, Mike Muscala, and Corey Kispert each added 12 points for Washington.
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Cleveland dominated in rebounding with a 62-36 advantage. Tristan Thompson and Georges Niang were significant contributors, with Niang also adding 15 points off the bench. The Cavaliers excelled in shooting, with a 53.5% success rate and shooting 20-42 from the perimeter.
Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. acknowledged the Cavaliers’ superiority in various aspects of the game and emphasized the need for his team to improve their physicality and rebounding.
“They got it done on all levels; on the glass, in the paint, they made 20 3s,” Unseld said. “I didn’t think we brought the requisite amount of physicality. Rebounding is a mindset and that’s got to be a priority for us.”
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The Cavaliers have adapted well despite the absence of key players Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, focusing on an analytics-driven approach to maximize their 3-point shooting. This strategy was evident as Strus, Mitchell, LeVert, Niang, and Sam Merrill each made at least three 3-pointers in the victory.
“We’re trying to play more of the analytics game since we are down bodies,” Bickerstaff said. “They say you have to find a way to be aggressive and shoot as many 3s as you can. That’s what we’re doing because we’ve got guys who can make them.”
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The game was closely contested initially, with 14 lead changes in the first 10 minutes. However, a 3-pointer by Mitchell at the halftime buzzer gave Cleveland a significant lead, and they maintained their dominance throughout the game. Strus highlighted the team’s recent shift to a more dynamic and collaborative style of play.
