Cavs Click in 138-113 Rout of Wizards: Ball Movement, Confidence, and a Whole Lot of Sam Merrill
CLEVELAND - This is the version of the Cavaliers fans have been waiting to see. Crisp passes, sharp shooting, relentless energy, and, most importantly, a team that looks like it believes in itself. Wednesday night’s 138-113 blowout over the Wizards wasn’t just a win - it was a statement.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Cavaliers are rolling. Even before the recent trades that brought in James Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis, Cleveland had been quietly stacking solid performances.
But now? They’re operating on a different frequency.
And while Harden isn’t the sole reason for the surge, his fingerprints are all over this. He’s not dominating the ball or racking up 30-point nights - he doesn’t need to.
What he is doing is orchestrating. If you’re open, he’ll find you.
If you’re almost open, he’ll still find you. And if you’re Sam Merrill, you might just have the night of your life.
Merrill torched the Wizards for 32 points, going a jaw-dropping 9-of-10 from deep. Nine.
Of. Ten.
With Harden and Donovan Mitchell pulling defenders like magnets, Merrill had space to operate - and he didn’t waste a single inch of it. “Haven’t had a night like that in a bit,” Merrill said.
“You just kind of feel like everything’s going in.” On Wednesday, everything was.
Mitchell, by the way, quietly dropped 30 points of his own on 11-of-19 shooting - the kind of efficient, in-control performance we’ve come to expect. And Jarrett Allen?
He continued his resurgence with 21 points on a perfect 8-of-8 from the field, adding nine rebounds for good measure. Head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t hold back when talking about Allen’s evolution: “This might be the best Jarrett Allen I’ve seen.”
And here’s the kicker - the Cavs haven’t even practiced with Harden yet. Not once.
They’ve had just one session since Schroder and Ellis joined the fold. Chemistry this smooth, this quickly?
That doesn’t happen by accident.
Harden’s line won’t wow you - 13 points, 11 assists, just one made field goal on four attempts - but that’s exactly the point. He’s not here to dominate the box score.
He’s here to unlock the best in everyone else. “He makes the game easy for everybody else,” Atkinson said.
“That’s hard to do. You’ve got to be a great player to do that.”
Harden himself seemed unfazed by the low shot total. “I took four shots and we won by 25 points,” he shrugged. “So … who cares?”
What’s resonating most with this group is Harden’s leadership. Merrill noted that Harden’s been “very vocal” during film sessions and timeouts - a presence that’s been both grounding and energizing.
“I’ve watched this guy my whole life,” Merrill said. “But you don’t really know him until you’re there.”
That’s the thing about this Cavs team right now - it’s not just about the stars. Schroder, Ellis, Jaylon Tyson, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Thomas Bryant - everyone’s having their moments. The ball is moving, the roles are clear, and the confidence is contagious.
As for the Wizards, it’s another tough chapter in a long rebuild. Sitting at 14-39, Washington has a ways to go before they’re back in the mix. There’s potential in the pipeline, but Wednesday night made it clear they’re not there yet.
Meanwhile, Cleveland heads into the All-Star break with momentum and swagger. At 34-21, they’ve won 10 of their last 11 and five straight. Since December 29, they’re a league-best 17-5 - and they’re doing it with a mix of star power, depth, and unselfish play.
The Cavs are starting to look like a real problem in the East. And the scary part? They haven’t even had a full practice with this new group yet.