At halftime in Cleveland, the Wizards have the edge, 69-59, and the story so far has been their ability to get whatever they want around the basket.
Washington’s dunk count in the opening quarter-and-a-half was, in the writer’s words, unlike anything he’s seen in 20 years on the beat. The Cavs have had almost no answer for the rim pressure. Outside of a couple of big swats from Jarrett Allen, Cleveland hasn’t shown much that suggests it can consistently take away those easy looks.
That’s what makes this Washington group feel different. With Trae Young and Khris Middleton as the lone exceptions, the roster is built on athletes who can fly. Young, Anthony Davis and No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa give the Wizards real reasons to believe, and their length and explosiveness have been a problem for Cleveland all night.
The fix is straightforward in theory: be physical, body up, and force tougher shots. Just as important, the Cavs have to stop getting burned on backdoor lobs. They did manage to look better on that front for a short stretch late in the half, but only for a couple of minutes.
Offensively, Cleveland is getting enough to stay within reach, but the other end is the issue. Peyton Watson has been strong with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while James Harden has had a rough night at 2-of-10. Donovan Mitchell has only taken five shots, including two in the final minute of the second quarter.
In Other News...
Peyton Watson Is Giving The Cavs Something They May Really Need
Amid the early-season chaos around the league, Peyton Watson has given Cleveland a different kind of lift in a recent overtime win, the sort that tends to matter more when games tighten and possessions get ugly. The Cavaliers have plenty of scorers they can lean on, but Watsons value showed up in the areas that dont always make the highlight reel, with his activity helping swing momentum on both ends while the team keeps sorting out its rotation.
The offense still has a bit of a project attached to it, though, and that is the piece Cleveland will keep watching as the sample grows. Watsons size and defensive energy are already giving the Cavaliers something they can build on, but the next question is whether his shot becomes reliable enough to make him more than a situational weapon as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Win Still Exposed A Frustrating Problem Mobley And Allen Haven't Fixed
The Cavaliers got the overtime win they needed against Minnesota, but the box score still pointed to a nagging problem that has followed them at times this season. Even with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen anchoring the front line, Cleveland was hurt on the defensive glass, and the Wolves extra chances kept possessions alive in a way that made the game far harder than it should have been.
For a team built to defend at a high level, the issue goes beyond two big men doing their job. Rebounding on the defensive end has to be a full-team task, with guards and wings helping close possessions before they turn into second opportunities, and this one offered another reminder that the Cavaliers still have work to do there if they want to make wins look cleaner. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Win Just Sparked An Officiating Debate Fans Will Be Talking About
The Cavaliers overtime win over the Timberwolves is already the kind of result that gets replayed, but the NBAs Last Two Minute Report added another layer to the discussion. The league identified two officiating mistakes that worked in Clevelands favor, while also backing several other calls from the final stretch, including the non-flagrant ruling on Donovan Mitchell and a foul on Jaden McDaniels.
What stood out most was how thin the margins were late, when every whistle can reshape a games finish. The report said a key call should have gone the other way on the final possession of regulation, and it also marked an overtime foul involving Mitchell and LaMelo Ball as incorrect because the contact was deemed incidental, leaving plenty for fans to debate even after the result is in the books. [Read more 🡒]