CLEVELAND, Ohio — About 60 minutes before tipoff, a member of the Cavs’ front office made an unprompted comment to cleveland.com.
_We have to get this one._
The Cavs did, beating the surging San Antonio Spurs, 130-117, on Friday night inside Rocket Arena.
The teetering Cavs entered the game losers of four of the last five. Less than a week ago, star guard Donovan Mitchell addressed the team in the locker room, discussing the importance of building championship habits. He made similar comments following Wednesday’s loss — about needing to be better. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson admitted players were angry and frustrated — emotions that he welcomes and believes are healthy during an extended funk. Jaylon Tyson talked about the team too often being in cruise control.
The vibes were far from immaculate in Cavalier land. They knew the importance of a get-right game. They needed to play well against a quality opponent to get their joy — and mojo — back.
Perhaps this victory will help — even though it didn’t start off promising.
The Cavs trailed 9-2 in the first two minutes. They were behind for all but 14 seconds of the first quarter.
Using a 6-0 run at the start of the second quarter, Cleveland finally took its first lead of the night — 36-35.
It lasted 40 seconds.
By halftime, the Cavs were down by eight points.
The Spurs looked younger, faster, hungrier, and flat out better.
But the Cavs emerged from the locker room a different team. More tenacity. More spunk. More focus. More heart.
An 11-2 push at the start of the second half allowed them to go back in front at the 9:51 mark of the third quarter. It eventually became a 28-9 run that gave the Cavs an 11-point advantage — the biggest lead of the night for either team at that point. That increased even more as the third quarter progressed, going in front by 20 at one point.
In all, Cleveland outscored flustered San Antonio 44-19 over those 12 turnaround minutes, taking a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter.
It was shades of 2024-25 when a furious rally would render an opponent helpless.
This time, the Spurs, who came into the night with a 15-6 record, riding a two-game winning streak, looked overmatched — even against a depleted version of the Eastern Conference co-favorites.
Cleveland was again missing six every-night rotational players — Darius Garland (injury toe management), Sam Merrill (right hand sprain), Jarrett Allen (strained finger), Max Strus (foot surgery), Tyrese Proctor (personal) and Larry Nance Jr. (calf strain).
Evan Mobley was listed as questionable after waking up with a stomach bug in the morning that kept him from participating in shootaround. But Mobley recovered in time to play, giving Cleveland an interior edge against smaller San Antonio, which didn’t have centers Victor Wembanyama (calf strain) or Luke Kornet (ankle soreness).
Mobley recorded his 13th double-double this season, tallying 17 points and 10 rebounds.
He was one of seven Cavaliers in double figures.
Mitchell finished with 28 points and eight assists. Tyson added 24 points, including 16 in the second half. Two-way forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin, thrust back into the starting lineup Friday night, chipped in with 13 points.
Dean Wade had 12 while Craig Porter Jr. and De’Andre Hunter scored 11 apiece.
The Spurs got 28 points from Devin Vassell — although only three of those came in a chilly second half. De’Aaron Fox added 25.
It hasn’t been a fun few weeks for the Cavs. They will be the first ones to admit it. But as Mitchell has stated numerous times, this season is about passing mental tests. It’s about responding to adversity. Showing toughness.
The Cavs took a step forward in that Friday night, snagging one of their best wins of the young season.
**Up next**
The Cavs will continue their homestand on Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.