Jarrett Allen led the charge with 22 points and 12 rebounds, complemented by Caris LeVert‘s 18 points and 12 rebounds, as the Cleveland Cavaliers halted a potential three-game losing streak with a 114-105 win against the Washington Wizards during Sunday’s NBA action.
Evan Mobley contributed 21 points, while Donovan Mitchell added 16 points in his comeback game after sitting out the first two post-All-Star break games due to illness.
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted the team’s defensive efforts at crucial times but acknowledged a need for improvement.
“I thought we defended well when we needed to,” Bickerstaff said. “We just need to be better. I don’t think we played to our standard tonight. I expected more fire from our group after losing two games in a row and having the opportunity to play another one.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards Updates
Darius Garland‘s critical performance, including eight points in a significant 22-4 run, was pivotal in Cleveland completing a season sweep over Washington. Despite struggling with his three-point shooting this season, Garland nailed two crucial three-pointers late in the game, much to Bickerstaff’s approval.
“It’s huge for him. He needed to see a few go in,” Bickerstaff said. “It was good for him to find his mark, especially late when the pressure was on.”
On the Wizards’ side, Jordan Poole scored a season-high 31 points, and Kyle Kuzma added 27, but their efforts were not enough to end the team’s now 11-game losing streak, dropping to 2-12 under interim coach Brian Keefe.
“Credit to our guys to keep battling and showing the resilience that we want to see out of them,” Keefe said. “I thought Jordan and Kyle were really stepping up, pushing us.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards Updates
Rookie Bilal Coulibaly, selected seventh in the 2023 NBA draft, exited early with a bruised right pelvis after a fall, while Corey Kispert was sidelined due to illness. Despite the setbacks, Keefe praised his team’s resilience and highlighted Poole and Kuzma’s leadership.
The game took a turn after Poole’s 14-0 run put the Wizards ahead, but the Cavaliers quickly regained control with a decisive run, capped by key plays from Garland, Mitchell, and Mobley, securing a comfortable lead.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards Updates
Mitchell expressed concern over the team’s recent performances and emphasized the need for improvement, especially in starting games stronger.
“We’ve got a lot of things we’ve got to clean up, especially the past three games,” Mitchell said. “The way we started this game was terrible, to be honest with you. And that’s on us (starting) five.”
Looking ahead, the Cavaliers will host the Dallas Mavericks, while the Wizards will welcome the Golden State Warriors, both matches scheduled for Tuesday night.
