Cavaliers show regular-season readiness despite another preseason defeat
cavaliers-regular-season-readiness-despite-another-preseason-defeat
The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped their third straight preseason game under head coach Kenny Atkinson, falling to the Chicago Bulls 119-112 on Thursday night at the United Center. While the win column remains empty, several key contributors appeared poised for the Oct. 22 regular-season opener in New York.
Who stood out
Guard Donovan Mitchell paced Cleveland with 22 points in just 25 minutes, sinking three three-pointers and controlling the tempo whenever he was on the floor. Forward Evan Mobley followed with 21 points, five rebounds and a series of highlight plays that showcased his continued growth. DeAndre Hunter added 20 points, hitting four shots from beyond the arc, and center Jarrett Allen anchored the interior on both ends.
Rotation tweaks
After deploying line-change substitutions in the first two exhibitions, Atkinson mixed starters and reserves through the third quarter. Jaylon Tyson again replaced injured guard Sam Merrill, while late-game minutes went to rookie Tyrese Proctor, two-way wing Luke Travers, camp invitee Killian Hayes and recently signed center Thomas Bryant.
Game flow
Cleveland opened with baskets on its first five possessions, racing to a quick double-digit advantage. Turnovers and cold shooting then swung momentum to Chicago, setting up a back-and-forth contest that featured nine lead changes and eight ties. The Cavaliers had a chance to force another swing in the closing seconds, but Proctor’s three-point attempt rimmed out, sealing the result.
Despite the 0-3 preseason record, Atkinson indicated that the Cavaliers’ rhythm and conditioning are tracking well with less than two weeks remaining before the regular season tips off at Madison Square Garden.
Source: Hoops Wire
