Evan Mobley plays hero in crunch time, lifts Cavaliers over Thunder, 110-102

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Frustration. Aggravation. Deja vu.

The Cavaliers skilled all of these feelings and extra on Saturday evening as they watched a 10-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate. It was eerily much like the debacle in opposition to the Kings on Friday evening. However this time was completely different. This time they survived.

Evan Mobley notched 12 of his 21 factors within the fourth quarter to assist Cleveland fend off a ferocious Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder comeback, 110-102, on the second evening of a again to again at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavaliers improved to a league-best 12-2 at dwelling and 3-2 on second sport again to backs.

“I believed he was a power,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated. “He was taking part in with a willpower to ensure we end the sport the precise method. He was going to make no matter performs have been in his energy to assist us. It was everywhere in the flooring. It was assists, rebounds, scoring, defensive performs. He was in all places.”

Mobley entered the evening averaging 13.8 factors, 10 rebounds and three.2 assists whereas taking pictures 60% in his final 5 video games.

He guided Cleveland (17-10) to a fourth quarter rally after Oklahoma Metropolis (11-15) tied the sport at 89 on a Jalen Williams driving layup. Cleveland went on to tear off a 12-4 run, fueled by the gifted 7-footer and contributions from Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen.

Enjoying with out star guard Donovan Mitchell for the second evening in a row (decrease leg soreness), the trio mixed for 64 factors with Mobley and Allen including a mixed 23 rebounds, every incomes double doubles. Darius Garland added 13 whereas Lamar Stevens chipped in 10 factors.

“We have been speaking about it earlier than we even got here out that we needed to shut this sport out as a result of OKC tends to return from behind and take the lead ultimately, so we have been actually targeted on not letting that occur,” Mobley stated.

The close to fourth quarter collapse was one other reminder of a really gifted staff, going via a maturation course of

“It’s irritating for all of us,” Bickerstaff stated. “There’s alternatives to mature in moments like this, however once more, we’ve to be higher. We will’t proceed to do the identical issues to ourselves. Largely via self-inflicted wounds. We’ve to be higher. It says rather a lot that we didn’t enable final evening to hangover and let a bunch of fellows step up that have been decided to assist us win.”

Enjoying with out Kevin Love for the second evening in a row (decrease again soreness), the reserve unit mixed for 16 factors within the first half to assist the Cavaliers slowly construct their lead over the run-and-gun Thunder. They then tacked on a number of extra key baskets to maintain the Cavaliers one step forward till the fourth quarter. They completed with 21 factors, together with eight every from Cedi Osman and Isaac Okoro.

“That’s who our bench is,” Bickerstaff stated. “Cedi, he’s an power participant that offers everybody round him power. Raul is available in and he’s disruptive. Isaac the identical. They knew this Oklahoma Metropolis staff doesn’t quit. All people was going to need to contribute. But it surely was going to be via our effort and our selflessness.”

Bickerstaff has additionally seen a way more aggressive LeVert in back-to-back spot beginning roles with over 20 factors.

“I feel he’s simply being aggressive,” he stated. “He isn’t hesitating on pictures, not hesitating on appears, not hesitating on his reads. He’s simply taking part in ball.”

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Stevens supplied his trademark protection all through the evening, matching up in opposition to a number of Thunder defenders, together with the harmful Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was held to a team-high 23 factors and fouled out within the ultimate minutes.

“I really feel like we simply had to return to our identification, which is protection, rebounding and actually holding opponents and making them uncomfortable,” Stevens stated. “I really feel like we did an excellent job of that in direction of the tip of the sport. Within the ultimate 5 to 6 minutes, I really feel like we actually went again to our identification.”

Cleveland grabbed a fast 8-2 lead behind a pair of assists from Garland and by no means relinquished the benefit. They cushioned their lead within the ultimate seconds of the primary two quarters with a few 3-pointers as Okoro drained one within the first quarter with 10 seconds left whereas Garland notched his deep shot simply earlier than halftime to provide the Cavaliers a 59-46 lead.

Cleveland stretched the result in 17 midway via the third quarter. The bench unit checked again in with three minutes left and the Cavaliers main, 77-62. Shortly after, Okoro hit a 3-pointer on an help from Raul Neto. Osman added a splash to the basket to place Cleveland up 82-70.

With the Cavaliers main 82-72 heading into the ultimate body, Oklahoma Metropolis went on a 11-5 run to start the fourth quarter, trimming the result in 87-83 with 8:46 left earlier than Mobley’s heroics helped will the Cavaliers to victory

Josh Giddey and Aleksej Pokusevski completed with 17 and 16 factors, respectively for the Thunder.

Milestone

Allen grabbed his 1,000th offensive rebound with 1:26 left within the third quarter. He completed with six offensive rebounds.

Up subsequent

The Cavs will head to Texas for a two-game swing, starting with the San Antonio Spurs on Monday evening. Tipoff is about for 8:30 p.m.

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