AP
CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ fairly easy 120-105 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
1. Not sure if you’ve heard, but that Donovan Mitchell guy is pretty good.
2. So is the Cavs’ offense when Darius Garland is on the floor. Those two All-Stars weren’t the only reasons this was a win — but they were the driving forces.
3. And they went about it in two different ways. Mitchell erupted for 37 points (14-of-22 shooting), eight rebounds and six assists. With Mitchell on the court, the Cavs outscored the Clippers by 26.
4. I mean, wow. That’s really the only way to describe Mitchell on nights like this.
5. Coach Kenny Atkinson: “Everyone’s gonna talk about his scoring, but I thought the passing was also (great). He’s just got great control of the game and is in a great, great place.”
6. Meanwhile, Garland finished with just eight points, but also a team-high eight assists. The offense just runs so much smoother with the ball in his hands.
7. But again, those two weren’t alone. This was a teamwide win in the truest sense.
8. Evan Mobley went for 18 points and 10 rebounds, hitting nine of 12 shots. De’Andre Hunter scored 17. And rookie Tyrese Proctor filled in for some of the injured with 11 points in 17 minutes.
9. Atkinson liked what he saw from the second-round pick. “He’s a highly skilled player and has a really good presence about him,” he said. “I like to say we got a first-round pick in the second round. … I don’t want to put too much pressure on him. But that’s what it looks like.”
10. Others such as Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson, Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Larry Nance Jr. got in on the act, too. The Cavs (12-6) needed all of them, as Jarrett Allen (finger), Sam Merrill (hand), Craig Porter Jr. (hamstring), Lonzo Ball (knee management) and, of course, Max Strus (foot) were out.
11. Cleveland also did a nice job defensively. The Clippers (5-12) got Kawhi Leonard back, and he was pretty good (20 points). But James Harden was held to 19 one day after scoring 55.
12. Harden made 10 threes against the Hornets on Saturday. He went 0-of-8 against the Cavs on Sunday. That’s just life in the NBA.
13. There was little time to celebrate. The Cavs had to hop on a plane afterward and head to Toronto for a back-to-back. The Raptors have been one of the league’s early surprises. They’re 2-0 against the Cavs, with both coming in Cleveland.
14. Atkinson said the Cavs will be shorthanded against Toronto. Mitchell and Mobley will play. Many others are a mystery. Cleveland then gets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday off before traveling to Atlanta on Friday.
15. In short, with Garland back, everyone looks at least a little better. Some look a lot better. “We’re learning a lot about ourselves, but we have a ways to go before we get to where we want,” Atkinson said. With all that in mind, he added, “I’ll take 12-6.”
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