Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cavs outduel the Spurs for fourth West Coast road trip win

By Justin Taguibao

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 07: Evan Mobley # 4 talks with Darius Garland # 10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers as they enter the game after a timeout during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 07, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 07: Evan Mobley # 4 talks with Darius Garland # 10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers as they enter the game after a timeout during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 07, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Cleveland Cavaliers put on the clamps in the final period

The Cleveland Cavaliers make it three consecutive wins by outlasting the San Antonio Spurs on the road, 114-109. Coming into the final period at a deficit, the Cavs tightened up defensively and held the home team to just six points in the final six minutes to snatch the victory.

Darius Garland was once again the stabilizing presence for the Cavaliers, scoring 14 of his 32 huge points in the fourth quarter to lead the team to another wire-to-wire win. The 21-year-old looked like a veteran floor general while dishing out eight assists and continues to build his NBA All-Star candidacy.

Cleveland’s other aspiring first-time All-Stars in the Tower City duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley also showed out. Allen came out with a huge double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds, while the rookie Mobley added 15 en route to the team’s fourth win in five games in the road trip.

On the other hand, the Spurs’ Dejounte Murray also came to play as he dropped 30 markers, 14 boards, and eight assists but came short of towing the hosts to the finish. Keldon Johnson also put in 18 as San Antonio dropped their fifth consecutive game.

Cavs look to close out West Coast trip with a bang

After losing one of their top key players in veteran floor general Ricky Rubio, things were looking a little bleak for the Cavaliers as they set off for the grueling six-game road trip out west. Unsurprisingly though, is the mettle that the team has continued to display in the face of adversity behind their young leaders in Garland and Allen.

Even as they struggled to get into a rhythm offensively against the Spurs, the defense came through for the Cavaliers when it mattered. With the win, Cleveland remains in a steady position to contend for a proper playoff spot by holding firm in sixth place, improving to a 25-18 record in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.

With less than a day’s turnaround, the Cleveland Cavaliers make one final stop in the West Coast rodeo against the Oklahoma City Thunder before returning home to host the powerhouse Brooklyn Nets at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on the 17th.

Next. Ranking the Cleveland Cavaliers young core by potential. dark

Home/Cleveland Cavaliers