Coming into the second game of their back-to-back with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cavaliers were without their top two frontcourt players in Andre Drummond(back) and Larry Nance Jr.(wrist), but fortunately for Cleveland, they have depth.
Newly-acquired center Jarrett Allen, who made his first start for Cleveland for the injured Drummond, had 23 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks. Collin Sexton had a game-high 26 points as the Cavaliers defeated Minnesota 100-98 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday night.
The Timberwolves defeated Cleveland 109-104 on Sunday night in Minnesota, but on Monday, the Cavaliers were a different team, and their head coach J.B. Bickerstaff liked what he saw.
“They showed a pride in each other,” Cavs head coach J.B Bickerstaff said after the game. “They showed commitment to who we are and what we believe in, and to be a few bodies down and still figure out a way to go get a win and scrap it out, wasn’t easy.”
Allen was not happy with the team’s effort on Sunday night, but he loved the energy the team played with on Monday night.
“That was just unacceptable for how the Cleveland Cavaliers play,” Allen said. “We play with energy, we play unselfish, and we’re always ready to give it our all, and that’s what we did tonight.”
After committing 19 turnovers on Sunday night, Cavs PG Darius Garland felt the team beat themselves. On Monday night, Garland, who had four turnovers in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, bounced back with 18 points, 11 assists, and only two turnovers. Bickerstaff was happy with what he saw out of Garland.
“When you’re facilitating the ball, and you’re making everybody better and making everybody feel like they are apart of it, and then, you’re able to make those daggers, your status grows,” Bickerstaff said. “And I think that’s where Darius is heading. He’ll get there to the level of those elite guards if he continues to do what he did tonight.”
Garland added: “I just want the ball in my hands so that I can make plays for everybody else. Just try to make the right reads.”
Credit to this young Cavs’ team for bouncing back the way they did on Monday night, which was expected when you consider this team’s mental makeup. Now, they have to find ways to be more consistent going forward.
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