Dribbles: Caris LeVert Rises High, as Cohesive Cavs Wallop Sixers

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 113-85 hammer job of a home win over the 76ers on Wednesday. …

1. Some nights, everything goes your way. It just clicks. The shots go in even when they don’t feel great. The ball moves. The opponent is listless. From the first man to the last, you simply have a great all-around outing.

2. On Wednesday, that was the Cavs. And man, Caris LeVert needed a game like this.

3. LeVert led all scorers with 22 points. It was his best night since the 41-point eruption vs. the Celtics back on Oct. 28. Since then, he’s either been hurt or … well, or not verry good.

4. That’s not a shot at LeVert’s effort. It’s very clear he wants to do well. It’s clear he has changed around his game a little for the good of the team, aiming to become more of a facilitator.

5. In the process, he’s been way out of sorts when it comes scoring the ball. His shot has been clunky, his ball-handling and ability to get to the basket maybe even worse. He’s been in a funk. For one night, he snapped out of it. And maybe it can be a night off which to build.

6. Of course, when you run the opposing team out of the gym, as the Cavs did here, it truly is a teamwise effort. Darius Garland had 21 points and nine assists. Donovan Mitchell went for 18 and six, respectively. Evan Mobley was only needed for half the game, yet finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.

7. And if the Cavs have ever had a better night on 3-pointers, I sure can’t remember it. They started the game 11-of-15 shooting … on threes. They finished 15-of-29. That, folks, is pretty remarkable.

8. Ah, yes. It’s good to be back home. Yes, it helped that the Sixers were without their injured starting backcourt of James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, a reputed Cavs killer. But no one has felt sorry for the Cavs (14-8) for being without Jarrett Allen, Kevin Love and Lamar Stevens. All you can do is take it to the guys in the other uniform. It’s not your problem if they’re at less than full strength.

9. Let’s take a look at some more numbers: Garland went 9-of-16 from the field and 3-of-4 on threes. Mitchell went 5-of-9 and 5-of-7. Mobley was 8-of-10 shooting and LeVert 8-of-11. Heck, even Isaac Okoro (11 points) went 5-of-7.

10. So yeah, it all clicked. And then some. It was as if all the X’s and O’s on coach J.B. Bickerstaff‘s blackboard magically came to life.

11. Basically, it was a fun all around game and may have show LeVert that, hey, there is still time to get that shooting touch back. After all, this wasn’t much more than shooting practice — as it truly would be hard to image the Cavs doing much better if they were in the gym alone.

12. Next up: The Cavs face the Magic at home. That’s scheduled for Friday. If they come out like they did on Wednesday, it’ll be a no problem. As it stands, they have won six of eight.