CLEVELAND — Akron native Chris Livingston had key people from his support system in attendance on Dec. 5 when he played for the first time at Rocket Arena as a member of the Cavaliers.
On a night when All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell and promising second-year Cavs wing Jaylon Tyson shined for an inconsistent team in need of the type of morale boost only winning provides, Livingston entered Cleveland’s 130-117 victory over the San Antonio Spurs with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter.
Livingston drove for a layup with 2:03 left and watched a 3-pointer rim out with 34.9 seconds left. The box score shows Livingston scored two points. It doesn’t indicate he lived a dream by playing for the Cavs (14-10) in front his mother, Julia Livingston, agents Rich Paul and Brandon Cavanaugh, his trainer and a couple of friends with whom he grew up in Northeast Ohio.
“It was a great feeling,” Livingston told the Beacon Journal. “Since I got here, I’ve been eager to be a part of the team, be a part of the action and just display what I can do while being home.”
Livingston has appeared in three Cavs games and nine games with their NBA G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge, since he signed a two-way contract with the organization in November.
Livingston’s other two appearances with the Cavs occurred on the road. He played less than a minute on Dec. 1 in a 135-119 win at the Indiana Pacers. He logged 14 minutes on Nov. 24 in a 110-99 loss at the Toronto Raptors, scoring seven points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field and compiling three rebounds, an assist and a steal.
“It was really good for my confidence,” Livingston said.
Livingston, 22, explained he has known three of his new Cavs teammates for a few years: Tyson, point guard Darius Garland and rookie guard Tyrese Proctor. He is becoming more familiar with others and trying to find his place with a focus on defending, rebounding, running the floor and playing the right way.
“It’s just a good locker room, good guys, good energy, so I’m just willing to learn from each and every one of them,” Livingston said.
Playing in the NBA isn’t new to Livingston. He spent the past two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks after they drafted him in the second round (No. 58 overall) out of the University of Kentucky in 2023. In the regular season, he played 42 games with the Bucks and 39 games with the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League.
Before Livingston’s lone college season, he played for Buchtel in Akron as a high school freshman, Western Reserve Academy in Hudson as a sophomore, Buchtel again as a junior and Oak Hill Academy in Virginia as a senior.
Livingston’s basketball career has taken him back to familiar territory. As a kid from Akron, Livingston cheered for LeBron James and the Cavs. He went to games in downtown Cleveland.
“He’s a really good player,” Tyson said. “He’s come in confident. We’re going to need him some games this year, like we needed him in Toronto. But I’m happy for him, and hopefully we can keep growing with him.”
Donovan Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson lead Cavs to 130-117 win over Spurs
Mitchell scored 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field (1 of 5 on 3-pointers) and collected two rebounds, eight assists and three steals in 32 minutes.
Tyson scored 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor (2 of 4 on 3s) and compiled six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots in 33 minutes.
Jaylon Tyson says Cleveland Cavs discovered joy in win vs Spurs. Video
Cleveland Cavaliers wing Jaylon Tyson discussed the Cavs’ win over the San Antonio Spurs. Here’s video from his postgame interview.
The Cavs trailed 72-64 at halftime before outscoring the Spurs 44-19 in the third quarter. Tyson led the Cavs’ dominant performance in the third quarter with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field (2 of 3 on 3s).
“He’s shooting the ball well,” Mitchell said of Tyson. “He’s improved in that arena. He’s finishing well. He’s not trying to draw fouls. He’s trying to actually go dunk on people, which is great. He’s earned the trust of everybody in this locker room, which is huge as a second-year guy.”
Donovan Mitchell commends Jaylon Tyson after Cavs beat Spurs. Video
Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell discussed second-year wing Jaylon Tyson’s performance after the Cavs beat the San Antonio Spurs. Video here.
A first-round pick in last year’s draft (No. 20 overall), Tyson has scored in double figures in 12 of his last 15 games. As a rookie, his role was centered more on defense and energy than scoring. But with the Cavs shorthanded this season — they had five players out with injuries against the Spurs (15-7) — he has adapted.
“Obviously, I had a good game, but it’s not about me,” Tyson said. “Whatever I am needed to do on this team, I’m going to do. Just right now, the scoring is needed, but I don’t look at it from the scoring [standpoint]. Did we win? Did I impact winning at a high level? That’s how I look at it.”
Forward Dean Wade changed game for Cavaliers vs. Spurs
After the game, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said he “probably should have started” forward Dean Wade against the Spurs. Atkinson started Nae’Qwan Tomlin instead. However, Atkinson turned to Wade to begin the second half, and the move paid off.
“Starting Dean Wade in the second half helped us,” Atkinson said. “We put him on [Spurs guard De’Aaron] Fox. Everybody’s gonna say, ‘Well, [Spurs guard Devin] Vassell [scored 25 points in the first half], but it was really De’Aaron was in our paint. We just had to make that move. We had to put Dean on him, just to slow it down, change our coverages up a little.”
Vassell scored 28 points — just three in the second half. Fox finished with 25 points, including 10 in the second half.
The Cavs rebounded better, too. They trailed 23-18 in rebounding at halftime but finished with a 48-38 advantage. They also outscored the Spurs 80-44 in the paint.
Forward Evan Mobley had 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Wade added 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a steal.
Why not start Wade more often? He has started merely three of his 22 games this season.
“We don’t want to run his minutes up really high,” Atkinson said. “I’m not saying he’s on a restriction, but there are some parameters there. I’ll just say that.”
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.