INGLEWOOD, Calif. — On the bus ride from Beverly Hills to Inglewood, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson was consumed by one specific thought.
_This is weird._
Surging Cleveland topped the Los Angeles Clippers, 124-91, on Wednesday night inside glitzy Intuit Dome.
The Cavs have won nine of their last 11 games. They are now fourth in the Eastern Conference — and look primed to continue this ascension, especially given this week’s roster enhancements.
Atkinson was right. Wednesday _was_ weird.
Cavs and Clippers, two teams in opposite conferences, separated by more than 2,000 miles, now forever linked by a blockbuster trade that led to the acquisition of future Hall-of-Famer James Harden and the simultaneous departure of a one-time Cavaliers pillar — Darius Garland.
And there was Garland, inside the building, seated courtside, directly across from the Clippers’ bench, taking it all in while being introduced to the Los Angeles fanbase as the organization’s newest beacon of hope — exactly what he once represented in Cleveland.
There was even a rotating billboard that welcomed a smiling Garland wearing a photoshopped Clippers jersey.
What are the odds _that_ was the first game since the franchise-altering deal, _that_ was Garland’s first official night as a Clipper.
Weird.
A little more than 24 hours after his Cleveland tenure ended, and on the eve of the Thursday’s trade deadline that could lead to even more activity, Atkinson admitted focusing on the game might prove difficult.
Didn’t seem to be a problem. Cleveland picked up where it left off in Portland on Sunday.
The Cavs started the game by scoring the first seven points. By the end of the first quarter, they had doubled up Los Angeles — 36-18. It was Cleveland’s largest opening-quarter lead all season.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter, the Cavs had increased that lead to a then-game-high 26 points on Craig Porter Jr.’s thunderous breakaway dunk.
The advantage eventually reached 35 with 22 seconds left.
Star guard Donovan Mitchell put on a show in front of his former sidekick, scoring 29 points on 10 of 19 from the field and 3 of 9 from 3-point range to go with nine assists and five rebounds in 30 minutes.
Jaylon Tyson, who received an organizational vote of confidence following its deadline dealings, chipped in with 17 points and four rebounds. Sam Merrill had 11 points while Jarrett Allen, fresh of a career night against the Blazers, finished with 10 points and 11 boards in 23 minutes.
Dennis Schroder, one of two Cavalier newbies making their debut Wednesday, checked in at the 7:21 mark of the first quarter. He made his first basket about 30 seconds later — a driving layup.
In all, the pesky Schroder tallied 11 points, six assists, two rebounds and three steals in 19 impactful minutes off the bench.
Keon Ellis, Schroder’s old Sacramento teammate who came with him in the same deal for De’Andre Hunter, had six points, drilling a pair of triples.
The surgical Cavs shot 51% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc. They dished out 30 assists on 50 made shots. They never trailed — 48 minutes of brilliance. A glimpse of the new-look roster’s upside — even without Harden who is likely to make his debut this weekend.
The Clippers were led by newly-named All-Star Kawhi Leonard who finished with 25 points and eight rebounds.
As the final seconds ticked away, Garland stayed seated next to his family in that corner, thinking about what once was and no longer is.
Then, one by one, all of his old teammates came over to gives hugs and farewells.
That’s when it sunk in. After seven years, Garland is gone.
Weird.
**Up next**
The Cavs will continue their road trip on Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m.