In trouble lately, with 8 defeats in the last 11 games, the Cavaliers received Clippers always difficult to maneuver, as Los Angeles loves comebacks and hold-ups.
This time, however, Tyronn Lue’s men didn’t fall too far behind, even though the team’s two attacking powerhouses, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris, were resting back-to-back and on a busy schedule. But this team always seems to find solutions to be competitive, and annoy its opponents.
Despite the return of Caris LeVert (11 points, 7 rebounds) and the impact of the youth of Ohio, the Cavs never managed to kill the game. The Clippers could even have won thanks to their momentum at the end.
Behind his Garland / Mobley duo, Cleveland seemed to have done the hardest part by taking a 9-point lead (100-91) six minutes from the end. But Los Angeles relied on Ivica Zubac and Terance Mann to pick up the score, and if Amir Coffey had not left a free throw on the way, the Clippers could have folded the case before overtime. But the two teams finally find themselves tied (106-106) after 48 minutes, and it therefore takes five additional minutes to decide between everyone.
Fresher, the Cavs then make the difference, with a great Evan Mobley, author of a huge counter on Ivica Zubac to set the tone (the Croatian will give it back to him in stride) and a Lauri Markkanen who plants the 3-pts which kill.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Cleveland has not forgotten Tyronn Lue. Nice welcome for the Clippers coach, who received a nice round of applause and a long “hug” from Kevin Love after a tribute video in the first quarter. The inside is the only remaining player from the 2016 champion team, with Tyronn Lue in charge.
– The Clippers save themselves. As the Lakers rack up losses, the Clippers are unlikely to fall below 8th place in the West. Without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, it’s obviously enough for Tyronn Lue, who had decided not to shoot the organisms. He therefore rested his two offensive leaders, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris, to finish this series of five games in seven days.
– The young Cavs present. Injuries are starting to weigh on Cleveland, much less flamboyant than at the start of the season, but the youth are not giving up. Darius Garland (24 points, 13 assists) has again ensured his role as conductor, well helped by an Evan Mobley who is progressing visibly, a very aggressive Isaac Okoro (20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) or another decisive Lauri Markkanen (17 points) in extra time.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Evan Mobley. The rookie broke his season high with 30 points at 13/22 shooting, plus 6 rebounds. Even if he suffered from the weight of Ivica Zubac, whom he struggled to remove from the circle, Evan Mobley was invaluable for his team. As his opponent noted, he is a very different player compared to the start of the season.
✅ Ivica Zubac. Without Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris, the Clippers insisted on the Croatian under the circle, rightly because he did a nice job (24 points, 14 rebounds) to move the frail frame of Evan Mobley. Even if the mobility and touch of the latter hampered him on the other side of the field.
✅ ⛔ Amir Coffey. Los Angeles needed offensive input and Amir Coffey seemed like the man of the day. After three quarters, he was at 16 points, 6/8 in shooting including 4/6 from afar. Except that he failed in the last quarter and overtime, forcing a lot, missing a decisive free throw which could have definitively changed the match and finishing the final quarter and overtime with only 3 points scored, 1/10 shooting.
THE FOLLOWING
Cleveland (39-29): big challenge for Evan Mobley, with the reception of the Sixers of Joel Embiid, tomorrow evening
LA Clippers (36-35): the ‘road trip’ is over, with Los Angeles heading home to host the Raptors tomorrow night
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