Dribbles: All again goes really right for Cavs in trouncing of Wizards

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 114-90 home win over the Washington Wizards on Friday.

1. Well, that was pretty much 48 minutes of garbage time. But if you love the Cavaliers, it was a fun way to spend a Friday night.

2. That’s because on this night, the Cavs were the Harlem Globetrotters and the Wizards were the old Washington Generals, the team of actors whose job was to serve as the butt of the Globetrotters’ tricks.

3. That said, the Cavs didn’t do anything fancy. They just played their normal game. The woeful Wizards once again couldn’t keep up.

4. So basically, this was just a repeat of the final two quarters on Wednesday, when the Cavs built a 44-point lead before winning by 39. 

5. It’s really a shame they only get to play the Wizards four times this year. Then again, every team probably feels that way. The next two are in Washington (Feb. 7 and Feb. 25).

6. Want to hear something else strange? The Wizards beat the Trail Blazers in Portland. Yes, that was the same Blazers team that beat a fully loaded Cavs team in Cleveland on Nov. 30.

7. Welcome to the sometimes wild world of the NBA.

8. Everyone who played for the Cavs (20-15) looked great. It was just that kind of night. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting. He went 5-of-8 on 3-pointers, too.

9. Georges Niang also had one of his better showings with 14 points and nine rebounds. Jarrett Allen went for 12 points and 12 boards. Sam Merrill and Caris LeVert added 11 points each, with LeVert passing for 11 assists.

10. Against the Wizards, all of the X’s and O’s on coach JB Bickerstaff‘s chalkboard suddenly spring to life.

11. So the Cavs have now won two straight games by at least 20 points. Yes, it’s just the Wizards. But it still counts for something, and it sure beats allowing such a miserable opponent to keep it close.

12. Allen to Bally Sports: “(It shows) that we’re locked into the game plan and that we’ve come ready to play every night.”

13. Allen went on to credit the Cavs’ defense, adding that the offense is coming around via unselfishness. “We just have a trust and bond with each other,” he said. “We’re willing to make the extra pass so that people can get their buckets. We know that if we pass the ball we might even get it back.”

14. The only hiccup came in the second quarter, when the Cavs scored just 16 points. But it turned out not to make even an inkling of a difference.

15. One-time Cavs draft pick and current point guard Tyus Jones led the Wizards (6-28) with 16 points. But forward Kyle Kuzma was held to just nine, committing seven turnovers. Kuzma entered the night averaging 22.8 points.

16. Next up are the Spurs, on Sunday afternoon, also at home. Despite the presence of No. 1 overall pick and 7-foot-4 center Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio may be even worse than Washington.

17. As I wrote earlier, Sunday is the guarantee date on the contract for center Tristan Thompson. I can’t see the Cavs doing anything but guaranteeing Thompson’s deal for the rest of the season. We have the full post here.

18. We also have more news on Mitchell. Check it all out on our Cavs page.