Dribbles: Darius Garland returns, Donovan Mitchell erupts, and Cavs fly by Sixers

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 132-121 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. 

1. The big story here is that Darius Garland made his season debut. And the Cavs’ offense hummed more than at any other time this early season.

2. Garland is one of five or six guards in the NBA who get to wherever they want on the court. Donovan Mitchell is another.

3. But let’s start with Garland. Thanks to his return, the ball movement, the energy, the chemistry were just so much more … well, fluid. “He sets us up nicely,” coach Kenny Atkinson said.

4. It didn’t hurt that the Cavs (5-3) also got back Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill. It was almost like they were whole. But of course, De’Andre Hunter was out sick. That’s not a knock on Hunter. I’m just pointing out that the Cavs still weren’t able to roll out their preseason starting five.

5. No biggie, as Allen had a really nice night. Merrill had a really nice night. And second-year man Jaylon Tyson started and did the same.

6. But rarely does anyone have as nice a night as Mitchell. When it comes to putting the ball in the basket, it seems as if only dumb luck can stop him. He erupted for 46 points on 15-of-21 shooting (6-of-11 on threes). It all happened so effortlessly, too.

7. Maybe it’s just me, but having Garland back seemed to benefit Mitchell even more. Garland’s ballhandling and the spacing he creates freed up everyone, actually. As Atkinson said, “Everyone gets back to what their role is.”

8. Allen went for 24 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back from a finger injury. He did it all while wearing a splint. Evan Mobley was also quietly fantastic with 23 points, including 3-of-5 on threes. And man oh man, do Allen and Mobley protect the basket with the absolute best of them.

9. Merrill scored 14 on 4-of-6 from the field, and often drew 76ers star Tyrese Maxey on defense. Maxey scored 27, but Merrill and the Cavs’ swarming defense made him really work for it.

10. Tyson added 10 points, Garland scored eight, and Larry Nance Jr. had seven.

11. And while Lonzo Ball didn’t register a point (0-of-3), he passed for eight assists in 22 minutes. Once that guy gets into a groove, I have a feeling he’s really, really gonna help this group. The Cavs don’t need him to score. Just facilitate, defend and grab some boards. He’s already doing most of those things.

12. Meanwhile, Dean Wade exited after a mere 38 seconds. He was poked in the eye. Atkinson said Wade couldn’t see, but there’s no structural damage. Take your wins where you can get them, I guess.

13. The Sixers (5-3) came in after a rough night in Chicago, in which they blew a 24-point lead and lost by two. But they were riding high at the start of the week. At one point, this game was tied at 72-all. Then the Cavs turned on the jets and Philly fell apart. 

14. Standout rookie VJ Edgecombe was limited to seven points on 3-of-14 shooting. He entered the night averaging 19.7 points on 48 percent from the field. So Garland did the job defensively, too. He wasn’t alone when it came to guarding Edgecombe, but that was his man at the start.

15. The Cavs still need to do a better job on the boards. This we know. Nonetheless, there aren’t too many teams that will outscore them when they’re close to whole — rebounding be darned.

16. Don’t tell Atkinson I said that. This, of course, is assuming he even knows who I am.

17. Anyway, all went well in Game 1 of the season with Garland. The Cavs once led by 26 points, and after pulling away in the third, were never really threatened. “He gives us confidence,” Atkinson said of Garland, and right away, that was remarkably evident.

18. Cleveland next visits Washington on Friday, before returning home for East-leading Chicago the next night.