Dribbles: Cavs, Jarrett Allen don’t let weariness drag them down, dunk on Spurs when it counts

March 27, 2025

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 124-116 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. …

1. For a long time, this was a dogfight. Maybe a little disappointing when you consider how the Spurs are limping toward the finish line.

2. But know what wasn’t disappointing? How multiple people just stepped forward and refused to let the Cavs lose.

3. Jarrett Allen was the mightiest example. Donovan Mitchell was another. Darius Garland didn’t have the greatest night — but really delivered at the end. Max Strus made numerous key plays.

4. Let’s face it, the Cavs (59-14) haven’t been quite the same these past few games. They seem to be dragging. Sometimes, they even admit that’s the case. What they could undoubtedly use is that week off between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.

5. The good news? Only nine more to go. In the meantime, the Cavs are at least finishing the job lately, this being the third victory in a row. Their lead over Boston for the top seed in the East is at five games.

6. OK, back to Thursday night. Allen was magnificent in the second half, particularly the fourth quarter — when he scored 19 of his 28 points, making all six of his shots. He also grabbed eight of his 16 rebounds in the fourth.

7. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what’s known as an utter eruption. Goodness gracious. We should add that the Cavaliers really needed it on an otherwise so-so evening.

8. Coach Kenny Atkinson on Allen: “He never misses a game. I don’t know how he does it. I thought his energy was down in the first half (when he scored just two points). He knew what we needed; we needed him to punish their small-ball lineup. He was the absolute key to our victory tonight.”

9. Then there was Mitchell. He admittedly had been in a bit of a slump. But boy oh boy, did he break out of it on this night. How do 25 points and a career-high 14 assists sound? He also grabbed eight boards, falling just a couple short of his first career triple-double.

10. The Spurs actually led this game by an 8-0 count. That’s truly when we saw vintage Mitchell. As Atkinson said, the All-Star guard got the Cavaliers started.

11. Strus went for 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. De’Andre Hunter added 14. Sam Merrill scored 13. All were vital on a night when Evan Mobley (rest) and Ty Jerome (knee) sat out.

12. Meanwhile, Garland had a long night with just 10 points and 4-of-15 shooting. He could’ve chalked it up to fatigue and just nothing going in the basket. Then came the final 1:30. The Cavs’ lead was just 117-114. It was then that Garland buried a 3-pointer off a Strus feed.

13. The Spurs missed on the next possession. Allen grabbed the rebound. Mitchell missed a 3-point heave. Spurs point guard Chris Paul grabbed the rebound. But Strus and Hunter swarmed Paul and knocked the ball away. Garland drove and scored. That made it Cavs 120-114 with 20 seconds to go. Goodnight, everybody. Thanks for coming.

14. Atkinson on Garland: “He hit the dagger three. Typical clutch DG. His spirit was right. Not a great game overall, but when it was money time, he made the key plays.”

15. Others certainly played a role. Hunter grabbed seven rebounds. Isaac Okoro was fantastic in the first half, when he scored all nine of his points. Dean Wade and Javonte Green came through with some intangibles. Tristan Thompson was his usual active self before getting thrown out for throwing an elbow. Let’s just say the call was debatable.

16. The Spurs (31-41) are just playing out the string after a once-promising season. Any playoff hopes went out the window when Victor Wembanyama (blot clot) went down. Then De’Aaron Fox followed. They still play hard and have lots of promise. The future is bright. Devin Vassell and rookie Stephon Castle led the way with 22 points apiece.

17. There will be no rest for the Cavaliers. They hopped on a plane after the game and headed for Detroit, where they’ll face old friend J.B. Bickerstaff and the Pistons. Don’t be surprised to see someone else — or maybe two some else’s — held out to rest. For Detroit, though, it’ll be like a playoff game.

18. Mitchell on the win: “We’ve really shown that we have trust in everybody. We definitely believe in each other, that’s the biggest thing.”

19. That has taken the Cavs places this season. They just need a break. One is coming. Just not yet. So until it does, they just have to keep finding away. On the bright side, they seem to be doing exactly that again.