The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t exactly lit the league on fire this season, but lately, they’ve found some rhythm-and it’s showing up in the win column. After Friday night’s 123-118 victory over the Sacramento Kings, the Cavs have now taken four of their last five.
And while Sacramento might not be a powerhouse this year, this one wasn’t a walk in the park. It took a full-throttle effort from Cleveland’s stars to get it done.
Donovan Mitchell did what Donovan Mitchell does-he dropped 33 points and kept the offense humming. But the real headline?
Evan Mobley. The 7-footer turned in one of the most complete performances of his young career, going for 29 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks.
That’s not just stuffing the stat sheet-that’s putting your fingerprints on every inch of the game.
After the final buzzer, head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t hold back. “That was one of the most dominant performances that I’ve seen from him,” he said.
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a veteran coach recognizing a player who’s starting to turn potential into production.
Mobley’s been something of an enigma since entering the league as the third overall pick. The talent has always been there-his length, defensive instincts, and court vision make him one of the most versatile bigs in the game.
But consistency has been the missing ingredient. One night he looks like a future All-NBA anchor; the next, he fades into the background.
That’s why Friday night felt different.
This wasn’t just a good game. It was a statement.
Mobley was assertive on offense, decisive with the ball, and locked in defensively. He didn’t just react to the game-he dictated it.
That’s the version of Mobley the Cavs need if they’re going to climb back into the Eastern Conference mix.
To his credit, Mobley’s been trending in the right direction. Each season, he’s nudged his scoring, assists, and block numbers upward while keeping his rebounding steady. He’s not just growing-he’s evolving, slowly but surely becoming the kind of all-around force that can tilt a game on both ends.
And when your head coach-someone who’s seen a lot of basketball at every level-calls your night “one of the most dominant” he’s witnessed from you, that says something. It says the trust is there.
It says the bar is being raised. And it says that when Evan Mobley plays like this, the Cavaliers aren’t just competitive-they’re dangerous.
Next up, Cleveland heads into a Saturday night matchup with the Orlando Magic. If Mobley can build on this performance and Mitchell keeps doing Mitchell things, the Cavs might just be turning the corner at the right time.