Dribbles: Cavs’ resiliency shines through yet again, and that’s just this team

March 11, 2025

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ comeback of a 109-104 home win over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday:

1. Just when you think the Cavaliers are dead … they find a way to win. Let’s be honest, this is like the sixth or seventh time this season we’ve left them for dead.

2. And probably the fifth time during the current 15-game win streak.

3. Yes, we have to use the word “current” because the Cavs keep doing this. They started the season 15-0. They rattled off 12 in a row later. Now, here we are again.

4. The Cavs (55-10) are Central Division champs, in case you weren’t aware. In case you stopped at one point during the season and thought, “Golly, the Cavs might not win the Central.”

5. How excited are the Cavs about it? Well, let’s ask Jarrett Allen. “What did we do? Oh, clinched the Central Division,” he said. “OK. We will celebrate.”‘

6. Quite honestly, the Cavs probably do think it’s cool. But Allen likely gave an accurate description of their feelings. Which is to say they view it as an achievement, but only if you remind them first.

7. Fifteen straight twice in the same season. Central Division crown. Best record in the NBA. Games like Tuesday’s explain all of it.

8. Namely, the Cavs refused to die when all seemed lost. That was especially the case for Darius Garland, who simply took over in the final 12 minutes.

9. The Nets led by 18 in the third quarter. The Cavs kind of chipped away despite not being able to make a shot for most of the night. Then Craig Porter Jr. banked in heave from beyond halfcourt to beat the third-quarter buzzer. That cut the deficit to eight.

10. Garland took it from there, scoring 10 points in the first 4:06 of the fourth quarter. It was just the start of things to come. He scored 18 in the final 12 minutes, on 7-of-10 shooting, on his way to 30. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what you call an All-Star.

11. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson on Garland: “Clutch player of the year. He just gets it done in the fourth quarter. He’s done that all year.”

12. The Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell (groin), De’Andre Hunter (illness) and Ty Jerome (rest). They needed every ounce of Garland, Allen and Evan Mobley they could get. And goodness gracious, did those three ever deliver.

13. Garland was the unofficial hero, but Allen may have been the game’s MVP. “I thought JA was the player of the game,” Atkinson said. “He really sparked our defense in the second half.”

14. Atkinson also mentioned Isaac Okoro and the intangibles he so often offers. For the record, Allen finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and three swats. Mobley scored 21 and passed for six assists.

15. So many others contributed just by doing the little things — Porter, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade. Even Javonte Green bounced back from a missed dunk by burying a three.

16. By the way, we probably aren’t alone. There are times even Atkinson admits to thinking the Cavs may be toast when they get down by, oh, 18 points in the second half.

17. Atkinson on that very topic: “This one did not look good. We were just missing shot after shot. But it’s find a way and that (mentality) goes deep into our roster. Our depth and grit and resiliency is something to behold.”

18. Allen was a bit more direct. “We’ve been doing this all season,” he said of the rallies. “We really need to stop doing it.”

19. By that, Allen meant that the Cavaliers might want to get out of the habit of falling behind by large deficits. But whatever. A win is a win is a win, and these guys just keep doing it.

20. Garland on the Cavs: “We don’t take regular-season games lightly. This team is resilient. We have a great mindset.”

21. Cavs-killer Cam Thomas led the Nets (22-43) with 27 points. For a while there, it looked like he’d beat the Cavs all by himself. But things were made considerably more difficult for him in the second half.

22. But give coach Jordi Fernandez and the Nets credit. For a team that’s playing for nothing but the NBA Draft lottery, they sure get after it.

23. Now, the Cavs have the bigger picture in mind. Let’s not forget that. Atkinson said before the game that they’re not talking about winning streaks.

24. Still, when pressed, he can appreciate 15 straight. “To do it at this juncture of the season, with fatigue and people trying to knock us off, it’s quite an accomplishment,” Atkinson said. “We’ll look back at this someday.”