Cavs show late composure, and that’s a decent sign

The Cavaliers needed to finish one.

They did.

After spending much of the night trying to catch up, the Cavs delivered late, closing out a 111-106 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans behind their backcourt.

James Harden and Donovan Mitchell took over when it mattered. They combined for 17 points during a decisive fourth-quarter run that turned a double-digit deficit into a lead.

From there, the Cavs (44-27)  did not give it back.

Mitchell ended with 27 points. Harden added 20 and 10 assists. Both did their best work in the final minutes, when the game was there to be taken.

That has not always been the case lately.

Evan Mobley provided balance throughout with 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, continuing his steady play on both ends. The Cavs also controlled the glass, with Sam Merrill recording a double-double and several others contributing.

It was not a clean performance.

The Cavs built an early lead, lost it, and spent most of the game reacting. The offense stalled at times. The rhythm came and went.

But in the end, they executed.

They got stops. They made shots. They looked organized in a moment that easily could have gone the other way.

For one night, that was enough.

Now the question becomes whether it carries over.