Cavaliers comeback to top Memphis 108-100
BY TIM SHIRER
CAVS BET WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - On Thursday night the Cleveland Cavaliers (8-5, 4-2 home) suffered one of their worst losses in the last couple of seasons as they fell 126-113 to the visiting Toronto Raptors. The 13 points were why the loss was bad, it was how it transpired. It seemed like there was a lack of focus. Though Cavs superstar Donovan Mitchell said a loss like that would help the team in the long run. He referenced the 2024-25 season where they started 15-0 and faced no adversity which did them no good once the playoffs began.
On Saturday night the Cavs welcomed Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies to Rocket Arena. Entering the game Cleveland leads the all-time series 36-21 and the Cavs are 22-6 at Rocket Arena against the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies since they entered the NBA in 1995.
The game was close early as the Grizzlies took a 15-11 lead with 7:57 left when Morant hit a jumper. With 5:32 left in the opening quarter the vibe for the Cavs was similar to the vibe on Thursday night as the Cavs trailed 21-15. With 4:51 left after Lonzo Ball turned the ball over Kentavious Caldwell-Pope cashed in at the other end to give Memphis a 25-16 lead. With 2:38 left the Grizzlies went up 28-18 taking advantage of the Cavs matador defense in the lane when Jaren Jackson, Jr scored. It was apparent early that the officiating crew of Ray Acosta, Jason Goldenberg and John Conley were prepared on every occasion to give the Grizzlies every call and give the Cavaliers none. Donovan Mitchell was shove to the floor by Jackson Jr and there was no call then with 1:00 left on the first quarter clock the 6’3 Mitchell was elbow in the face and knocked to the floor by the 7’4 Zach Edey and the Mitchell was called for a personal foul. It was going to be an uphill battle for Cleveland as they trailed 32-28 after one quarter. Mitchell and Jackson, Jr led all scorers with 10 apiece in the first 12 minutes. Surprisingly, Cavs matched the Grizzlies on the boards in the opening quarter which has been a rare occurrence this season as the Cavs have been out rebound in 9 of the 13 games entering tonight’s contest.
Early in the second quarter it was revealed that Morant left the game with left quad soreness and would not return. That didn’t seem to affect Memphis as with 8:13 left in the second period they built their lead to 42-31. In the first four and half minutes of the quarter the Cavs were outrebounded 6-1 by Memphis and it was showing on the scoreboard. Somehow, with 4:38 left in the half the Cavs cut the Grizzlies lead to 46-43 on three by Lonzo Ball. With 2:44 left in the second quarter the Bobbsy Triple official charged Mitchell with his third personal foul. As time ran out in the first half aided by without a doubt the worst officiating crew to work a Cavs game this season led 61-54. Statistically the game was close. Jackson, Jr. led all scorers with 17 first half points. Evan Mobley paced Cleveland with 11.
The early minutes of the third quarter were very similar to the first half as the Grizzlies were just one step ahead of the Cavs. Another thing that became very apparent was if a defender came within a foot of Edey a foul will be called on a positive note Edey is not a very polished foul shooter as he is at 70% for his career. With 5:25 left Dean Wade drove the lane after and scored to cut the Grizzlies lead to 74-68. The Cavs could pull no closer than six points and as the third quarter ended the listless Cavs trailed 84-76.
With 9:19 left in the fourth quarter the Cavs showed some life when Nae’Qwan Tomlin intercepted a Grizzlies pass and Merrill scored at the other end cutting the Memphis lead to 85-83. With 7:37 left on the Clock the Cavs pulled to within one point on a Mobley layup. Then with 6:31 left Mitchell gave the Cavs their first lead in what seemed like a decade 91-90. Then with 5:15 left Mitchell hit another three and the Cavs led 96-92. Another three by Mitchell, with 4:20 remaining, put the Cavs up by seven and then just 20 seconds later after a steal by Mitchell Allen dunked at the other giving Cleveland a 101-92 advantage. Then after a Grizzlies timeout the Cavs scored again and who else, but Mitchell as he drove the lane giving the Cavs a 103-92. The Grizzlies cut the Cavs lead to 106-100 with 2:18 left a three by Cedric Coward. The Cavs completed the task of not lowing two straight as they held on to beat Memphis 108-100.
Mitchell led everyone in scoring with 30 points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter as he scored 14 of the Cavs 32 points in the final 12 minutes. Jackson, Jr. led the Grizzlies in scoring with 26 in a losing effort.
The Cavs shot 46% (38 for 83) from the field outshooting the Grizzlies who shot 36% (31 of 86). In the second half, particularly the fourth quarter, the Cavs defense held Memphis to 28% (12 of 43) from the field and only 25% (4 of 16) from beyond the three-point line. The Cavs also won the battle of the boards 49-46. It was only the fifth time this season the Cavs have outrebounded their opponent.
The Cavs will have Sunday off and be back in action on Monday night at 7 pm when the Milwaukee Bucks come to town. The Cavs won the first meeting of the season which was the Cavs home opener on October 26th 118-113.
POSTED 11/15/2025 19:56
Lake County Sentinel
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Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley hits a first half jumper in the Cavs 108-100 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night at Rocket Arena. Photo by Tommy Shirer
