Cavaliers Defense Sets The Tone From Opening Tip
The Cleveland Cavaliers set the tone for their defense early on, stopping Charlotte’s offense from getting into a groove in the first few minutes. Active rotations and pressure on the inside made it hard for the Hornets to pass and forced them to take contested shots from the outside. This strong defense let Cleveland control the pace of the game, even though their offense was inconsistent at first.
Charlotte had a hard time getting clean shots because Cleveland did a good job of closing out shooters and protecting the paint. To keep the Hornets from getting second chances, the Cavaliers focused on defensive rebounding. This disciplined way of doing things helped Cleveland stay calm during long stretches of poor offense.
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Donovan Mitchell Leads Scoring Despite Shooting Struggles
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 24 points by attacking the basket and drawing attention from defenders. Mitchell kept driving into traffic even though his outside shooting was not working. His ability to put pressure on the defense opened up scoring chances for his teammates.
Mitchell scored without relying on 3-pointers, which shows how well he can adjust to Charlotte’s defensive schemes. When possessions broke down, he balanced making shots with making plays. This kind of leadership was very important during the last few minutes of the game.
Balanced Contributions Help Cleveland Win
Evan Mobley scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, making him the anchor for Cleveland’s inside game on both ends. Jarrett Allen scored 13 points and controlled the paint while grabbing important defensive boards. Jaylon Tyson scored 14 points, which was a timely boost off the bench.
This balanced output made up for Cleveland’s poor shooting from long range. The Cavaliers made only 8 3-pointers and turned the ball over a lot. But the team worked together to make sure that the offense stayed steady enough to win.
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Hornets Offensive Struggles Define The Game
Charlotte had one of its worst home games of the season, scoring very few points and not shooting well overall. The Hornets only made 33.7% of their shots and had a hard time shooting from long range. Missed shots from the outside always stopped the team’s momentum when they were trying to come back.
Brandon Miller scored 24 points for Charlotte and stayed calm even when the defense was putting pressure on him. Kon Knueppel scored 21 points, but he had trouble shooting from 3-point range. Charlotte’s offensive problems got worse because they could not score more than once.
LaMelo Ball Has a Hard Night on the Bench
LaMelo Ball, a guard for the Hornets, had a shooting night that was out of the ordinary for him when he came off the bench. He only scored 2 points with 1 made field goal. In a short amount of time, Ball missed all 10 of his 3-point shots.
Even though he had trouble shooting, Ball had 7 assists, which was the most of any player. His passing helped Charlotte’s offense move forward from time to time. But missed shots kept scoring runs from happening when they had the chance.
Cavaliers Control Rebounding and Key Game Runs
Cleveland had a strong 60-47 edge in rebounds, which gave them control of the game. Mobley and Allen always made it hard for Charlotte to get second chances. Rebounding dominance was very important in making up for problems with turnovers.
A key 16-2 run by the Cavaliers late in the second quarter made a big difference. Cleveland was in charge at halftime, leading 56-32. That stretch was important, even though Charlotte pushed back later.
Late Game Execution Wins on the Road
Charlotte closed the gap late, getting within 6 points in the last minute. The Hornets could not finish their comeback because they missed shots from the outside. Cleveland took advantage of the free-throw line to keep the lead.
Jaylon Tyson made a key free throw, and Jarrett Allen sealed the deal a few seconds later. Cleveland’s disciplined defense kept the final possessions from being clean. The Cavaliers ended the game calmly to get a hard-fought win on the road.
