Cleveland leans on defense, size to secure 113-101 road win over Spurs
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The Cleveland Cavaliers used a defense-first approach and a supersized lineup to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 113-101 on Monday night at Frost Bank Center.
Cleveland (18-16) started Dean Wade alongside big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, giving the visitors the ability to switch across the front line and crowd rookie center Victor Wembanyama. The strategy limited San Antonio (23-9) to 55.2 percent shooting at the rim and a 42.8 effective field-goal percentage, both season lows for the Spurs.
Key performances
- Jarrett Allen: 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting, 10 rebounds
- Evan Mobley: 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocks
- Donovan Mitchell: 10 points, seven assists
- Darius Garland: 15 points, 11 assists
Wembanyama finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds on 7-of-16 shooting, but San Antonio never found an offensive rhythm, posting its lowest point total of the season.
The Cavaliers also received solid contributions from the bench: Jaylon Tyson added 11 points, DeAndre Hunter collected nine rebounds, and Craig Porter Jr. recorded three offensive boards and a block. Lonzo Ball was a healthy scratch.
Cleveland returns home to host the Phoenix Suns on New Year’s Eve at 3:30 p.m. EST.
Source: Hoops Wire
