Cavs prevail in home opener 117-107 in overtime
Mitchell drains 37
BY TIM SHIRER
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - The Cleveland Cavaliers came home on Sunday night to open the home portion of their schedule with great expectations and a 1-1 record. In the first two games the newly acquired Donovan Mitchell averaged 31.5 points (31 in the opener at Toronto against the Raptors, only the second Cavalier ever to score 31 in their first game and 33 Saturday night against in Chicago against the Bulls). The 2-0 Washington Wizards were in town. The sellout crowd in attendance did not go home unhappy as the Cavs gave them a thrilling 117-107 overtime win to celebrate.
The Cavs got off to a sluggish start trailing 18-9 with 6:00 left in the first quarter. Over the next six minutes the Cavs outscored the Wizards 21-13 to close the gap to 31-30 when the first quarter clock ran out.
Cedi Osman led the Cavs in scoring in the first quarter with 10 points shooting four of five from the field including two for two from three-point range. The Wizards had two players with 10 points each, Kristaps Porzingis and Rui Hachimura. The Cavs turned the ball over three times which turned into seven points for the Wizards.
The Cavs took control of the game in the second quarter going on a 10-4 run in the first 4:05 of the quarter to lead 40-35 with 7:55 left in the half. The Cavs took their biggest lead of the half with 2:59 left when Osman hit a three pointer to give the Cavs a 54-44 lead. Evan Mobley got the assist on the trey. The first half ended with the Cavs on top 57-51.
A big key to the Cavs second quarter success was taking care of the ball as they turned it over only one time compared to three in the first quarter.
Mitchell led all scorers with 13 in the first half. Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 11 points in the half. The Cavs outworked the Wizards on the boards 22-19.
The Cavs increased their lead by one to 83-76 at the end of the third. Mitchell caught fire in the quarter doubling his points in the quarter with a total after three of 26 points. The newly acquired superstar shot 4 of 6 from the field including 3 of 5 from the three-point line.
The fourth quarter was a different story as the Wizards outscored the Cavs 27-20 to send the game to overtime with the game tied at 103-103. During the fourth quarter Mitchell passed Mr. Cavalier Austin Carr to who had 90 points in his first three games with the Cavs. Mitchell passed the Cavs all-time great with 8:46 left in the quarter when at that point he had 93 points in his first three games. He was not done.
In overtime the Cavs trailed 106-105 with 3:15 left. The Wizard fell apart in everyway possible missing free throws and turning the ball over and the Cavs led by Mitchell took over. Mitchell score seven of the Cavs next 12 points to secure the OT win and send the team to 2-1.
Mitchell finished with 37 points and now has 100 in his first three games as a Cavs.
Mitchell led all scorers, Beal tallied 27 to lead the Wizards in the loss. The Cavs outcleaned the glass winning the battle of the boards 48-35.
The Cavs will play next on Wednesday at home against the Orlando Magic at 7 pm. The Wizards will also be at home in Washington, DC on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons at Capitol One Arena at 7 pm..
POSTED 10/23/2022 22:23
Lake County Sentinel
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell Photo by Tommy Shirer