TITLE: Garland’s Perfect Fourth Quarter Lifts Cavaliers Over Pacers in Mitchell’s Absence
SLUG: garland-perfect-fourth-cavaliers-pacers
CONTENT:
Darius Garland turned in a spotless closing stretch Tuesday night in Indianapolis, scoring 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting in the fourth quarter to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 120-116 road win against the Indiana Pacers.
The performance came with leading scorer Donovan Mitchell sidelined. Garland, who finished with 29 points and no turnovers, controlled the final minutes by exploiting Indiana’s aggressive coverage with off-ball cuts, mid-range pull-ups and a late three-pointer over a prevent defense.
“A great point guard,” forward Evan Mobley said postgame. “Controlled the pace. Took the easy ones. Played good basketball.” Mobley and center Jarrett Allen set the majority of the high screens that freed Garland throughout the night.
Garland’s outing offered a boost in a season marked by injuries and uneven efficiency. Cleveland lineups led by Garland but without Mitchell have struggled to score, while Mitchell-led units rank near the league’s top tier. Toe and back issues that limited Garland during the offseason and training camp have contributed to a dip in his shooting and an uptick in turnovers.
Assistant coach Kenny Atkinson addressed those challenges last month, calling Garland “a soldier” who had “no offseason or training-camp runway,” adding, “We’re seeing flashes.” Tuesday’s game was another glimpse.
Indiana, currently owning the NBA’s worst record, rallied late but never overtook Cleveland after Garland’s streak. The Cavaliers improved to 64-wins with the Garland-Mitchell pairing last season and continue to search for consistent offensive balance when one of the guards is out.
Source: Hoops Wire
