The Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Sacramento Kings 123–118 on Friday night in Cleveland, improving to 26-20 and securing their ninth victory in the last 13 outings.
Cleveland opened the game with a fast start, cooled off, rebuilt a double-digit cushion and ultimately had to close the contest in grind-it-out fashion—an up-and-down pattern that has come to define the club’s first half of the season.
Donovan Mitchell paced the Cavaliers with 33 points and eight assists while committing just one turnover, a notable bounce-back after recording eight miscues in his previous appearance. Cleveland again played without injured point guard Darius Garland.
Evan Mobley delivered one of his most complete performances of the year, finishing with 29 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks. Assistant coach Kenny Atkinson likened the third-year forward to Shaquille O’Neal for his relentless work at the rim on both ends.
Rookie Jaylon Tyson added 17 points and seven rebounds, while center Jarrett Allen posted 15 points and 10 boards. Forward Dean Wade earned praise for a late defensive strip that helped preserve the lead.
The Kings fell to 12-34 despite a roster featuring veterans Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schröder after earlier moves that sent guards Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox elsewhere. Sacramento’s talent has yet to translate into wins, and the club struggled again to generate consistent stops.
Although Cleveland continues to search for cleaner, more convincing efforts, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s group enters the final weeks before the All-Star break on an upward trajectory, focused on turning flashes of cohesion into longer stretches.
Source: Hoops Wire
