A vintage fourth-quarter outburst by Donovan Mitchell saved the Cleveland Cavaliers from back-to-back losses to begin their six-game homestand.
The six-time All-Star shooting guard erupted for 14 points in a four-minute span Saturday, igniting a 17-2 run that lifted Cleveland to a 108-100 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Cavaliers continue their week-and-a-half stay in Northeast Ohio on Monday as they face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in a battle of Central Division contenders.
“A win is a win and we will take it,” said Mitchell, who had a game-high 30 points against Memphis. “It’s not pretty right now. Unfortunately, it’s not and we know that. We haven’t necessarily put it together. And that’s on this group.”
Cleveland alternated wins and losses in its last five games, including a decisive 126-113 defeat to the Toronto Raptors that opened the homestand. The Cavaliers are 0-2 against Toronto and 9-3 against the rest of the NBA.
Injuries have been a major problem. All-Star point guard Darius Garland (left toe bruise), swingman Jaylon Tyson (concussion) and shooting guard Max Strus (left foot surgery) are out, and the team has looked nothing like the 64-win squad that was the top seed in the Eastern Conference last season.
“We don’t compare and contrast in this locker room, but as a whole, it’s not last year,” Mitchell said. “Things change. So how do we as this group find our identity?”
The Cavaliers didn’t shoot better than 45.8% from the field or 32.5% from 3-point range in their four most recent games.
“I don’t know why we were stuck in mud again for three quarters,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Fourth game in a row where we haven’t shot it well, but our defense saved us. We did not play well and found a way with a good fourth quarter.”
Excessive fouling hurt them against the Grizzlies with Mitchell, Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter and Sam Merrill all taking at least four. Their frustration was visible, most notably by Larry Nance Jr. throwing his headband off the tunnel wall after he picked up three fouls in 4 minutes and 33 seconds.
The Bucks also were upset after being blasted 119-95 by the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. Antetokounmpo was stellar with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but center Myles Turner and small forward Kyle Kuzma combined for just four points.
“Honestly, we were just tired after last night’s game (a 147-134 overtime win over the visiting Charlotte Hornets),” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said. “I think we’ll keep getting better, maybe, but we had nothing tonight.”
The Bucks fell out of a top-six position in the East with the loss to the Lakers, but their franchise player didn’t want to blame fatigue as both games were at home. The Lakers also played back-to-back after beating the host New Orleans Pelicans 118-104.
Now, Milwaukee will wrap up a three-in-four set with the Cavaliers to deal with.
“(Were) we tired? Maybe yes, but they were tired, too,” Antetokounmpo said. “And they had the flight. You’ve got to exercise in the offseason so you’re able to play back-to-back sets, so it’s not an excuse. We didn’t play well. We’ve got to play better.”
