CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Cavs have yet to fall for the trap.
Cleveland entered Spectrum Arena against a hampered Charlotte Hornets roster with an injury report comparable to a CVS receipt for Saturday’s matinee.
However, the Cavs came into the game with the same principles and mindset that they showcased in all 21 of their wins, leading to their latest 116-102 victory over the Hornets.
Evan Mobley showcased his offensive evolution from the opening tip. The 23-year-old matched his age in points in the opening frame. The 23 points are the most he’s scored in a single period in his young career, tying him for the third-most points scored by a Cav in an opening period in franchise history, trailing Kevin Love (34) and LeBron James (24).
Fifteen of those points came from the 3-point line, as Mobley, who matched his career-high for 3s in a game (three) on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, set a new career best with five triples in the opening period alone, ending with six on the night. He outscored Charlotte himself, as the Cavs held a 40-18 lead after the first.
After the Nuggets game, Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson discussed the beyond the arc shot profile that he’d want from Mobley.
“It’s somewhere in that three to five \[3-point attempt range\], I think,” Atkinson explained. “I don’t think he’s coming off pin-downs and stuff like that, but it’s more the spacing ones or the easy pick-and-pop ones. It’s that kind of happy medium with him.”
Mobley was constantly screening for Donovan Mitchell in the opening period, leading to either defenders doubling Mitchell or playing Mobley’s pop to the 3-point line in a drop. These defensive decisions allowed Mobley that pivotal spacing to let five 3s fly in the opening frame for the 7-footer. Mitchell had six assists in the first quarter.
Cleveland did get caught briefly playing with their lead as the Hornets outscored the Cavs 34-23 in the second. Charlotte had three players score eight or more points in the period to cut the Cavs’ lead to 11 at the half.
Defensive lapses have become a consistent factor for the Cavs. Despite controlling the game early, Cleveland allowed Charlotte to find their rhythm in the second half.
Charlotte’s offensive resurgence was driven by five players scoring in double figures, a testament to their willingness to get multiple players involved with key players sidelined due to injuries. The Cavs’ struggles to contain dribble penetration and recover on rotations. Defensive miscommunications and late closeouts plagued Cleveland, allowing Charlotte to regain confidence and feed off their energized home crowd.
The Hornets carried that momentum into the third quarter, clawing their way back into contention. However, Donovan Mitchell had no intention of letting the game slip away. With under a minute remaining in the third, Mitchell silenced the Spectrum Center with a deep, cold-blooded three-pointer, and pirouetted back on defense with his arms extended towards the ground as if to tell the Charlotte fanbase to hush. His leadership, both in swagger and execution, stabilized the Cavs at a critical moment.
As has been their hallmark this season, the Cavaliers clamped down defensively in the fourth quarter, limiting the Hornets to just 19 points in the final frame. Cleveland’s defensive dominance was on full display in both the opening and closing quarters, holding Charlotte to 20 points or fewer in each. However, the middle quarters told a different story, with the Cavs surrendering 30 or more points in both the second and third, allowing the Hornets to stay within striking distance. Moving forward, the Cavs will aim to eliminate the lapses that can spark an opponent’s momentum, like those seen on Saturday, and maintain their defensive intensity throughout all four quarters.
Cleveland ultimately prevailed thanks to their offensive firepower, led by their Core Four. Evan Mobley showcased his growth as a two-way force, posting a career-high 41 points to go along with 10 rebounds and three blocks. His ability to convert anywhere on the floor and defend multiple positions was the backbone of the victory. Darius Garland and Mitchell chipped in 18 points apiece as the backcourt duo also combined for 13 assists. Jarrett Allen contributed 11 points and 10 boards.
Despite the win, the Cavs will likely view this game as a lesson in consistency. This was another opportunity to rest key players that was lost because Charlotte hung around. Each of the Core Four played 33 minutes or more.
**Up Next**
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The Cavs travel to Miami for the second game of a back-to-back against the Heat on Sunday at the Kaseya Center with tip-off set for 6 p.m. eastern.