Cavs Blown Out by Suns in Road Trip Opener: Turnovers, Defense Doom Cleveland in Phoenix
The Cavaliers came into Phoenix riding a wave of momentum-but they left with a harsh reminder of how quickly things can unravel in the NBA.
Cleveland opened its five-game Western Conference road trip with a 126-113 loss to the Suns on Friday night. And while the final score might suggest a competitive contest, the reality was anything but. Phoenix led by as many as 33 in the fourth quarter before both benches cleared and the scoreboard got a little friendlier for the Cavs.
Early on, this one didn’t scream blowout. The first half was physical and tightly contested, with the Suns holding just a five-point lead at the break.
But the third quarter? That’s where the wheels came off.
Phoenix exploded for 45 points in the third, shooting a blistering 16-of-20 from the field. That’s not a typo.
The Cavs’ defense simply couldn’t keep up. Every breakdown turned into either a clean look from deep or a walk-in layup.
Once the Suns got rolling, it was an avalanche-and Cleveland never found shelter.
The frustration boiled over quickly. Just over a minute into the fourth quarter, head coach Kenny Atkinson picked up his second technical foul and was ejected. It wasn’t about the officiating-it was about how completely the game had slipped out of Cleveland’s hands.
Two glaring issues told the story: turnovers and perimeter defense.
The Cavs coughed it up 22 times, and in a building like this, that’s a death sentence. Phoenix turned those giveaways into 36 points-essentially free offense for a team that didn’t need any help scoring.
Donovan Mitchell had eight turnovers, just one shy of his career high. With Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Craig Porter Jr. all sidelined, the offense leaned heavily on Mitchell to create and organize.
But without his usual support, the load proved too heavy. The offense never found its rhythm.
And then there was the three-point line. Phoenix shot 47.9% from deep, while Cleveland managed just 15-of-48-good for 31.3%.
That alone created a 24-point swing. In today’s NBA, you can’t survive that kind of disparity.
Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting, continuing his hot streak after dropping 40 the night before in Detroit. But it wasn’t just Brooks.
Seven Suns finished in double figures. They didn’t need one guy to take over-they just needed space, pace, and Cleveland’s mistakes.
They got all three.
For the Cavs (29-21), the silver linings were few and far between. Jarrett Allen was active early but faded as the game wore on.
Rookie Jaylon Tyson brought some spark off the bench, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. De’Andre Hunter led the team in scoring with 17.
Mitchell added 16 points and six assists, but the turnovers loomed large over his night.
This was a reality check for a team that’s been rolling. The Cavs have shown off their depth and resilience in recent weeks.
But without three key rotation players, the margin for error gets razor-thin. And when the execution slips-especially on the road against a team that can light it up-things can spiral fast.
The road trip rolls on Sunday in Portland. After a night like this, it’s not about dwelling on the loss-it’s about how they respond.