Cavs Top 3: Donovan Mitchell takes top spot against the Los Angeles Clippers

The Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, despite Donovan Mitchell’s big game.

The streak is over, eight games in a row the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to shut down the opposing team, but not a ninth. A string of late-game comebacks, a string of one-sided wins. A string of pointless fourth quarters all ended with one of the most riveting conclusions to a game all season. It was just a conclusion that didn’t benefit the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Clippers defeated the Cavaliers 119-117 and fall to 8-2 on the season.

The Cavs and Clippers were all tied up at 64 each in the 2nd quarter but it was a tail of two teams, The Cavs were out-scored by six points, which turned out to be enough of a swing to get the Clippers back into the game. The team traded leads, buckets, and shots all night long. The problem came down to defense. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense could not get the job done.

The offense did, shooting 51.8% from the floor, and 48.5% from three as a team. The issue, if you want to call it that, came down to free throw shooting. Darius Garland missed two crucial free throws, one down in the final minute of the game. Donovan Mitchell also missed a free throw, but that was deliberate. Kevin Love also missed one, which didn’t help. They weren’t the only two, but Jarrett Allen and Isaac Okoro only missing one each is a small miracle.

The defense just didn’t get it done. Evan Mobley was attacked all night, and despite dropping 26, had a box +/- of -20. The Clippers attacked him early and often to great effect. Caris LeVert also had issues. He went 2-8 on the night and is only shooting 36.5% from the floor for the season.

If there’s any consolation, the Cavaliers’ B-squad, aka the Utah Jazz, smacked down the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers, so there’s at least a moral victory. The Cavaliers and the rest of the NBA are off on Tuesday, but they’re back to action on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings.

Cleveland Cavaliers top 3 vs. the Detroit Pistons

1 Point – Darius Garland

It was hard to pick the third person on this list; Darius Garland missed his shots and wasn’t great with protecting the ball, having five turnovers, but Evan Mobley has looked lost on defense sometimes this season and he sure did against the Clippers. While Mobley had 26 points, Garland played better defense and posted a double-double of 19 points and 12 assists, so he gets the edge.

2 Points – Kevin Love

Kevin Love is playing the best basketball we’ve seen in years, maybe on par with his All-Star years during the team’s first set of title runs. He dropped 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists and is proving that his value is his versatility. He’s facilitating from the top of the key, from outside of the block, and taking charges on defense. Yeah, he’s basically only shooting threes anymore, but he’s contributing in other ways. He knows he has to be more of a Kyle Korver-type guy at this point and on this team.

3 Points – Donovan Mitchell

Another 30-point game, and nearly sealing a comeback win by tipping the ball back into play on a purposefully missed free throw? The man is incredible.

Cavs Top 3 Seasonal Standings

1. Donovan Mitchell – 18 Points
2. Jarrett Allen – 11 Points
3. Kevin Love – 8 Points
4. Cedi Osman – 7 Points
5. Darius Garland – 4 Points
6. Dean Wade & Caris LeVert – 3 Points
7. Evan Mobley – 1 Point