The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to extend their league-high winning streak to 12 games on Thursday night when they host the Toronto Raptors.
The Cavaliers took possession of the league’s longest winning streak from Oklahoma City on Wednesday, ending the Thunder’s 15-game string with a 129-122 victory in Cleveland.
Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 25 points, shooting 9 of 11 from the field while grabbing 11 rebounds. Frontcourt teammate Evan Mobley was crucial in the effort, collecting 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
It’s been a breakout season for Mobley, 23, who is averaging 18.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Allen was complimentary of his young teammate’s effort on Wednesday, which was a national coming-out party of sorts.
“The (national audience) finally learned who Evan Mobley is,” Allen said. “They still have a lot more to learn. He was doing everything for us. On the defensive end, he was getting stops.
“On the offensive end, we literally just drew up a play, gave him the ball, and said go to work. And he got us a big bucket at the end. So they’re learning about him.”
For Mobley, it’s just the next step in his evolution as an NBA player.
“I’m definitely starting to feel like (a star player),” Mobley said. All the hard work is definitely paying off. I’ve been in the gym these past few years, just trying to work on my offense game, keeping my defensive game at the same level, and I feel like all the hard work is definitely paying off now.”
The Cavaliers have won a league-best 32 of their first 36 games to start the season, a feat matched by only four other teams in NBA history. Three of those teams went on to win the NBA title, with the exception being the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in 2015-16.
Donovan Mitchell leads Cleveland in scoring, averaging 22.9 points per game on 45 percent shooting. Darius Garland is contributing 20.4 points and a team-high 6.7 assists. Allen leads the team with 10.1 rebounds while chipping in 14.1 points per game
The Raptors also were in action Wednesday night, dropping their third straight game with a 112-98 decision to the New York Knicks.
Immanuel Quickley scored 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field against his former team. Quickley has been a much-needed boost for a struggling Raptors team since coming back from injury last week, but his return still hasn’t translated into a winning stretch.
“It’s amazing (to connect with Quickley again),” Raptors forward Scottie Barnes said. “The intensity that he (brings) to the floor, both ends of the floor. It’s something that we really missed and we needed. His playmaking ability, his ability to just get to the paint, his shooting. His leadership, you know, we really missed it.”
Toronto has lost 14 of its last 15 games, with the win being a 130-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on New Year’s Day.
–Field Level Media
