It’s a scary proposition for rival NBA teams, but the Cleveland Cavaliers just seem to be getting better and better.
The Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers will be bidding for their seventh successive win when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.
Cleveland is coming off its second-largest victory of the season, a 37-point trouncing of the New York Knicks on Friday evening.
Donovan Mitchell scored 24 of his 27 points in a lopsided first half, Evan Mobley had 21 points and shot 82 percent from the field, and Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter both excelled off the bench.
Jerome scored 19 points in as many minutes, while Hunter’s 16 points included a perfect 4 of 4 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Hunter has knocked down 13 of 21 attempts from downtown in his four games as a Cavalier and has fit in at his new team like a glove after being traded from Atlanta earlier this month.
“(Hunter) has got some edge to him,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The physicality we knew about, but he’s got some moxie. Just the way he shoots the ball, there’s no hesitation.
“Sometimes when you come into a new situation, you’re trying to fit in. But he’s just kind of put his hand through the door, like ‘I’m in’ … He’s not trying to fit in.”
The reuniting of Jerome and Hunter, who won an NCAA title together at Virginia in 2019, gives the Cavs enviable firepower off the bench.
Both are candidates to be named Sixth Man of the Year, not that the old friends discuss potential individual awards.
“Truthfully, we haven’t talked about it one bit,” Jerome said. “I’m not even BS-ing. “The only thing we talk about is winning. Playing together is really cool. We won a championship in college together. If we can win a championship in the NBA together, too, that’s where our minds are at.
“(Hunter) is obviously a phenomenal addition in the locker room, on the court. He gives us another mid-post scorer — somebody you can throw the ball to and get you a tough basket … he’s finding ways to be aggressive and be himself, and he’s obviously a great two-way player.
The only negative for Cleveland in the blowout victory was a right-hand injury suffered by Jarrett Allen.
X-rays have ruled out a break, but the center remains a day-to-day proposition of taking on Memphis.
The Grizzlies arrive in Ohio buoyant after overturning a 19-point deficit and finishing with an 11-1 burst to top the host Orlando Magic 105-104 on Friday.
Ja Morant scored 23 points while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane contributed 16 points apiece.
Bane hit a tie-breaking free throw with 45.2 seconds left before Jackson blocked a potential game-winning 10-footer by Orlando’s Paolo Banchero in the closing seconds to preserve the win.
“That was big-time — coming up with big-time plays down the stretch,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “It took everything we had, to the last shot. Lucky we were able to come up with a big-time stop at the end and a big-time rebound.
“The resolve of the group was phenomenal. We just kept chipping away. A one-point victory after a difficult one the other night (14-point loss to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Thursday). We’ve just got to continue building on this.”
–Field Level Media
