1 – Welcome Back!
Donovan Mitchell was back in the lineup, and he chipped in with 17 points and five assists.
2 – Three!
Cleveland dominated from deep, going 20-45 led by Darius Garland’s six from three. New Orleans made only 4 for 22.
3 – Passing
The three-point shooting and offense explosion for the Cavs was made possible by 38 assists for the Cavs.
Donovan Mitchell marked his return from a seven-game hiatus by netting 14 points, contributing to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ impressive 116-95 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. Mitchell, sinking four 3-pointers, joined a quartet of Cavs players who each made at least that many, including Darius Garland with six, Sam Merrill with five, and Georges Niang with four. Cleveland showcased its sharpshooting prowess, draining 20 of 45 attempts from beyond the arc, while the Pelicans struggled, managing only 4 of 22 from long range, breaking their winning streak of four games.
Garland continued his stellar form, tallying 27 points and 11 assists for his second consecutive double-double, while center Jarrett Allen contributed 17 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. Niang and Merrill added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Despite Zion Williamson’s impressive 33-point performance accompanied by nine rebounds for New Orleans, supported by Brandon Ingram with 20 points and Trey Murphy III with 11, the Pelicans fell short. Although they outscored Cleveland 56-52 in the paint and 21-2 from the free-throw line, the Cavaliers’ dominance in 3-point shooting offset these statistical advantages.
The Cavaliers, registering at least 20 made 3-pointers in nine games this season, demonstrated their offensive prowess. While Cleveland capitalized on opportunities inside, they weren’t overly focused on challenging the Pelicans defensively in the paint throughout the game. Notably, the Cavs didn’t take their first free throw until Garland converted a three-point play with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
As Merrill sank his final 3-pointer to extend the Cavaliers’ lead to 100-74, fans started leaving the arena. Cleveland’s reserve center, Damian Jones, hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, showcased one of his best performances of the season, scoring a season-high 14 points.
At Houston Saturday Night.
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