Dribbles: Cavs Ride Donovan Mitchell Flurry To Fend Off Sixers, Move To 13-And-Oh-So-Incredible

November 13, 2024

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 114-106 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. …

1. The Cavs didn’t play well enough for the full 48 minutes to win. The Sixers probably did.

2. But it is the Cavs who are 13-0, just the sixth team in NBA history to wear that badge of honor. And what a badge it is.

3. For the record, the NBA has been around since 1946. So you are seeing history in the making.

4. This game again showed us why having a super-duper star is so valuable. Aside from Darius Garland and maybe Evan Mobley (who was sick), the Cavs couldn’t really get anything going. So Donovan Mitchell just took the whole thing over.

5. With about 2:45 to go, the Cavs were clinging to a 103-100 lead. They fought all night defensively, but just could … not … get … separation. Philly played a determined, battling brand of basketball minus their fearsome threesome of Joel Embiid (injury management), Paul George (ditto) and Tyrese Maxey (hamstring).

6. Then Mitchell buried a corner 3-pointer. Then the Sixers scored. Then Mitchell made another three. Then he made another. Then after the Sixers scored again, Mitchell drove to the basket. Two more points.

7. He started that flurry with 12 points on the night. He finished with 23 — scoring 11 in a span of 90 seconds. Oh, by the way, Mitchell also grabbed a whopping 13 rebounds.

8. In summary, the Cavs just didn’t have it. They didn’t always bring it, either. But Garland (25 points, 10-of-16 shooting) and especially Mitchell saved the day.

9. Frankly, it doesn’t matter how you win — only that you do. As Mitchell has said, it’s actually kind of nice to still get the victory when you don’t play your best.

10. As coach Kenny Atkinson added, the Sixers (2-9) had something to do with that. They played their tails off. The Cavaliers simply had zero answers for rookie wing Jared McCain. He shredded the Cavs’ defense to the tune of 34 points, and he was getting it done from everywhere — great distance, midrange, floaters, you name it. He couldn’t be stopped.

11. While the Cavs would never admit this, you couldn’t blame them for perhaps not being as determined to play a team that was missing its three stars. Cleveland even trailed by six points at halftime.

12. It was then that Atkinson “had an honest talk” with the team. It involved the showing of several video clips. He didn’t come out and say that the instruction was fairly intense — but you could read between the lines. Atkinson didn’t appear like he was very pleased until the final buzzer sounded.

13. As for struggling to beat such a short-handed team … well, the coach indicated that is one way to learn on your way to 13-0. “I think it keeps us humble,” he told reporters.

14. The Sixers threw a bunch of junk defenses at the Cavs, aiming to muck up the game. It worked and served as another lesson. “It was a good game for us to see a lot of different things,” Atkinson said.

15. Mobley added 14 points and seven rebounds and was a crucial 6-of-6 on free throws. Both Mobley and Allen were game-time decisions. Allen tweaked his leg in the last game, though it’s not considered anything serious. He came out on fire in this one, finishing with 11 points and 12 boards and offering energy early.

16. Overall, the bench was shaky — though Ty Jerome (eight points) again delivered in the fourth quarter. Garland has been massively clutch. Mitchell was amazing down the stretch on this night. And Jerome is right there with them in making big plays when it means the most. “He’s playing great basketball,” Atkinson said.

17. Isaac Okoro added nine points, Georges Niang had eight, Caris LeVert had seven and Dean Wade scored six. Craig Porter Jr. filled in for Sam Merrill (ankle). They were all just OK offensively. But each had a play or two that impacted things at the other end. That’s how you win. Little things. The Cavs clearly understand that.

18. I’ve received some comments from fans who said they weren’t thrilled with this one. But let me say this — the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors started 24-0, and I promise, there were some massive clunkers along the way. But all anyone remembers is 24-0.

19. So while I’m positive I don’t need to say this, I’m going to do it, anyway. All that matters is that the Cavaliers are 13-0. It’s a history-making start. It’s magical. It may never be matched by a Cleveland pro basketball team again. What a ride. What a win. Every last one of them.