Cavs lean on defense, size to pick up needed road win over Spurs

The Cavaliers showed some pulse Monday night, picking up a 113–101 road win over the San Antonio Spurs that felt bigger than just one result in the standings.

No, it doesn’t erase what has been a rough month. But it does give them something tangible to point to. A template. An identity reminder. Defense first, size on the floor, pressure everywhere.

The Cavs leaned fully into that approach against Victor Wembanyama, loading up help and daring others to beat them. Starting Dean Wade alongside Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley gave Cleveland (18-16) the flexibility to switch three-through-five and crowd Wembanyama at every touch.

It worked. By his standards, Wembanyama had an off night, finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds on 7-of-16 shooting.

More importantly, the Spurs (23-9) never found a rhythm. San Antonio shot just 55.2 percent at the rim and posted a 42.8 effective field-goal percentage, both season lows. It was their lowest scoring output of the year.

Allen set the tone. He controlled the paint defensively and was aggressive offensively, finishing with a game-high 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting, plus 10 rebounds. Mobley added 16 points, three blocks and seven boards, quietly anchoring everything on the back line.

The guards didn’t light it up, but they played the game the right way. Donovan Mitchell scored just 10 points but handed out seven assists. Darius Garland finished with 15 points and 11 assists, consistently finding the bigs in advantage spots.

The bench helped too. Jaylon Tyson chipped in 11 points, De’Andre Hunter grabbed nine rebounds, and Craig Porter Jr. brought energy with three offensive boards and a block. Lonzo Ball was a healthy scratch.

It’s one win. But it’s also a reminder of what this team looks like when it commits to what it’s supposed to be.

The Cavs return home next to face the Phoenix Suns on New Year’s Eve (3:30 p.m. EST). If they’re smart, they’ll bring this blueprint with them.