CLEVELAND, OH – On Monday evening, the Cleveland Cost welcomed again the Windy Metropolis Bulls. Final week, the Bulls got here to Cleveland and took the Cost all the way down to the wire. The Cost survived the scare with 28 factors every from Sharife Cooper and Jamorko Pickett. The Cost are coming in winners of their final 4 video games. They’re 10-4 within the season which is sweet for 1st place within the central area, and threerd finest file total. They are going to look to proceed to defend their homecourt and keep excellent at dwelling.
Early Battle in Cleveland
Early within the recreation, the Windy Metropolis Bulls had been locked in. The Bulls compelled a number of Cost turnovers that they changed into offense. Windy Metropolis jumped out to a fast 15-8 lead. The Cost battled their means again within the quarter and finally tied the sport. Ball management was a giant concern for the Cost within the opening body as they turned the ball over 8 occasions. Scoring was simple to come back by for each groups early on. For the Cost, Nate Hinton dropped in 9 factors thanks to 3 3-pointers. Mamadi Diakite led the way in which for the Cost, scoring 11 within the first quarter. The Bulls had a balanced scoring assault within the opening quarter. Marko Simonovic led the way in which with 7.
Photograph courtesy of Luigi Musto
Bulls Attempt to Pull Away
Within the second quarter, the Bulls continued to lock down on the defensive finish. They held the Cost to only 20 factors within the quarter on 6/21 capturing. They performed particularly good protection on the Cost’s main scorer Sharife Cooper. By the primary half, Cooper had tallied all however 2 factors. On the offensive finish for the Bulls, they had been dominating the paint. They scored 24 factors within the paint in comparison with the Cost’s 12. Carlik Jones and Malcolm Hill had been main the push for the Bulls. On the finish of the half, they every had 14 factors. The Bulls held a 56-47 lead on the finish of the primary half.
Photograph courtesy of Luigi Musto
Cleveland Costs Again
The threerd quarter was time to struggle again into the sport for the Cost. It was additionally time for Sharife Cooper to get going. Cleveland received scoring early within the body and didn’t let up. Cooper led the way in which within the 3rd for Cleveland. After being held to 2 factors on 1/6 capturing, Cooper had 15 factors on 5/5 capturing within the quarter. The Cost owned the paint within the 3rd as nicely. They outscored the Bulls 18-10 within the paint. Cooper was getting his teammates concerned all through as nicely. On the finish of the third, he had 17 factors and 12 assists. The Cost took the lead heading into the ultimate quarter with a rating of 81-79.
Photograph courtesy of Luigi Musto
Cost Shut Out
Early within the 4th, the Cost picked up proper the place they left off. Cleveland received out on the offensive finish hitting shot after shot. They prolonged their lead out to 10 factors halfway by way of the 4th. The Bulls wouldn’t go away simply although. Windy Metropolis fought again to get the sport to inside 3 factors on a number of events. Nonetheless, the Cost wouldn’t let the sport slip away. On the finish of the sport, the Cost got here out on high 114-108. With this win, the Cost moved to 8-0 at dwelling and 11-4 total this season.
Key Gamers
Cleveland Cost:
Sharife Cooper: 30 factors, 17 assists (franchise file), 10/17 FG
Mamadi Diakite: 23 factors, 6 rebounds
Sam Merrill: 21 factors, 7/9 3-point FG
Windy Metropolis Bulls
Carlik Jones: 36 factors, 8 assists, 6 rebounds
Ethan Thompson: 19 factors
Malcolm Hill: 17 factors, 5 assists, 4 rebounds
