The Cleveland Cavaliers came out swinging Wednesday night, putting together one of their most complete performances of the season in a dominant 26-point win over the Philadelphia 76ers. After a tough loss to the Jazz, this was exactly the kind of response head coach Kenny Atkinson wanted to see - high energy, crisp ball movement, and a defense that made life miserable for Philly from the opening tip.
At the heart of it all was Donovan Mitchell, who looked every bit the All-Star. He flirted with a triple-double, racking up 35 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.
Mitchell was in full command - slicing through the defense, drawing doubles, and still finding teammates in rhythm. When he’s this locked in, Cleveland’s offense hums at a different frequency.
Evan Mobley made sure the defense kept pace. The big man was a force on both ends, finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks. His timing and presence in the paint disrupted Philadelphia’s flow, and his ability to switch onto guards and contest without fouling continues to be one of the most underrated aspects of his game.
But what really stood out in this win? The passing.
Cleveland dished out 41 assists - just one shy of the season-high mark of 42, held by Memphis and Atlanta. The ball didn’t stick.
Extra passes were the norm. It was the kind of unselfish, team-first basketball that coaches preach about but rarely see executed this cleanly.
When you have that many assists, it means guys are trusting each other, making the right reads, and playing with pace and purpose.
Unfortunately, the night wasn’t all good news. Darius Garland exited in the third quarter with a right foot injury after putting up a strong stat line: 20 points, seven assists, and three rebounds. Garland was in rhythm, pushing the tempo and creating for others, so the timing of the injury was especially frustrating for a team that’s just starting to find its groove.
After the game, Atkinson labeled Garland as “doubtful” for Friday’s rematch in Philly, offering little else in terms of detail. With no travel between the two games, the Cavaliers will take Thursday to regroup and likely re-evaluate Garland’s status after Friday’s contest, with an eye toward Monday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In the meantime, expect Lonzo Ball to take on a bigger role at the point. His court vision and defensive instincts make him a solid plug-in, but the Cavs may also lean on Craig Porter Jr. and even Mitchell to bring the ball up and initiate the offense. It’s not ideal, but Cleveland has the depth and versatility to weather a short-term absence.
The Cavaliers currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference, and while there’s still plenty of season left, performances like Wednesday’s show what this team is capable of when it’s clicking. The hope now is that Garland’s injury isn’t serious - because if this core can stay healthy, Cleveland could be a serious problem for the rest of the East.