The Cleveland Cavaliers were up 14 at the 8:06 mark in the 3rd quarter, and then the Blazer closed the game out, winning easily 103-95. A lot of missed three-pointers, turnovers, and a lack of defense were the main issues during the collapse.
Cleveland went scoreless in the 4th quarter with the game tied at 83-83 for over five minutes as the Blazers broke the Cavs back with a 12-0 run.
Portland outscored the Cleveland bench 31 to 16 and played a big factor in the second half.
Shaedon Sharpe delivered an impressive performance with 29 points, while rookie Duop Reath achieved a season-high of 13 points as the Portland Trail Blazers secured their second consecutive notable road victory, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-95 on Thursday night.
Despite entering the game with a 5-12 overall record and 3-7 on the road, the Blazers rallied to surprise the Cavaliers, who experienced a significant letdown following their strong 23-point win over Atlanta in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament on Tuesday.
In their previous game on Monday, Portland secured a 114-110 victory against Indiana.
Sharpe exhibited efficiency by shooting 11 of 15 from the field and contributing 10 rebounds for the Blazers. During the fourth quarter, the team scored 12 consecutive points to create a gap against the Cavaliers, who endured over five minutes without a field goal.
The pivotal moment came with 1:33 remaining when Sharpe executed a driving layup, propelling Portland to a 99-91 lead. After the successful play, he celebrated on the baseline, flexing for the crowd while sending a pointed look toward Cleveland’s bench.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 23 points, supported by Evan Mobley’s 20 points. Despite Darius Garland’s 15 points, the All-Star point guard struggled with ball control, committing eight turnovers.
Cleveland, which had finally achieved full health and built momentum, delivered a subpar performance.
The Blazers, trailing by 12 midway through the third quarter, orchestrated a comeback with a 16-3 run, capped by Matisse Thybulle’s short putback, allowing them to take a narrow 74-73 lead.
Garland’s runner just before the third-quarter horn regained the lead for Cleveland at 75-74.
With the score tied at 83-all, the Blazers embarked on a decisive run in the fourth quarter, highlighted by Reath’s corner 3-pointer with 6:09 remaining.
Although Cleveland initially seemed poised to control the game, outscoring Portland 15-2 early in the second quarter to establish a 40-24 lead, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups reverted to his starting lineup. The team responded with a 14-2 surge to narrow the deficit to 46-40 at halftime.
Billups attributed his team’s improved performance to having “healthy bodies” before the game.
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