CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There was no disrespecting the game -- or the opponent -- this time.
The Cavaliers demolished the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers for a 122-99 wire-to-wire win on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, pushing their home record to an Eastern Conference-best 21-5.
“We just took care of business,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “It was lessons that we’ve learned the hard way and not repeating those same things. Credit to our guys for going out and taking care of business.”
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A little more than a week ago, the Cavaliers hosted the Golden State Warriors. That night, Golden State -- playing on the second night of a back-to-back -- rested six players, including Western Conference All-Star Stephen Curry and three other usual starters. And yet, the Cavaliers got embarrassed and outclassed by the Warriors’ B team -- a feckless performance that drew Bickerstaff’s ire. Following the incomprehensible loss, Bickerstaff said his team disrespected the game.
Cleveland was in a similar situation Sunday night.
The Clippers, who entered the matchup on a five-game winning streak, sat leading scorers Kawhi Leonard (right knee injury management) and Paul George (right knee soreness) following Saturday’s hard-fought victory in Atlanta. Veterans Marcus Morris Sr., Reggie Jackson, John Wall and Robert Covington were also held out, leaving undermanned Los Angeles with just 10 available guys, many of whom haven’t been used much this season.
With the proper approach and mindset, Sunday had the makings of a non-competitive blowout. That’s exactly what it was.
“We experienced the other side of this game,” Cavs center Jarrett Allen said, referring to the Warriors loss. “Coming out and setting the tone, that was the main thing for us. During the Warriors game, we kind of came out lackadaisical and this game we wanted to come out and send a message from the beginning.”
Cavs point guard Darius Garland opened the night with a feathery triple less than a minute into the first quarter, putting Cleveland up 3-0. It never relinquished the lead. The Cavs pushed their advantage to a game-high 40 points in the second half and then cruised to victory, with all five starters -- Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley and Allen -- watching the entire fourth quarter from the bench.
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Putting on a show during Turkish Heritage Night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, swingman Cedi Osman, who still calls Turkey home and returns there every offseason, finished with a career-high-tying 29 points. He was 11 of 13 shooting and 7 of 7 from 3-point range.
In the final minute, on every offensive possession for the Cavs, the crowd and bench rose up in unison, chanting Osman’s first name and urging him to attempt another shot.
“I knew that I tied my career-high, but at the end of the game, it was a 30-point game and a couple of seconds left, so I didn’t see any reason just to go and score two points,” Osman said following the win. “I felt like it’d be disrespectful towards the Clippers. Vert (Caris LeVert) was calling me to give me the ball, but I was just telling him to keep it. It was a fun game.”
Garland added 16 points and 10 assists in 23 minutes. Allen chipped in with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. LeVert tallied 12 off the bench.
Mitchell, sidelined for five of the previous six games, showed no signs of the groin soreness that has been plaguing him. He scored nine of his 11 points in a tone-setting first quarter. Mitchell was 5 of 9 shooting, including 1 of 3 from deep.
All 12 players made at least one field goal. The Cavs had 35 assists on 44 made shots. They hit 20 3s. Got 63 points from the maligned bench.
“We tried to play a great 48 minutes,” Osman said. “We remember what happened against Golden State. They’re a great team, but they were missing very important pieces, like their best players and we didn’t have a good game against them. Tonight, it was the same situation. We took it more seriously and everything started with our starters. They set the tone early, and then the second when we came in, we did the same job. Big props to the starters and then we follow their lead. It was a great game for us.”
Without their best players, former Cavs coach Tyronn Lue’s team shot just 41.6% from the field and 2 of 19 from beyond the arc. Youngster Brandon Boston Jr. finished with a team-high 24 points.
Typically, the first game back home after a road trip is daunting. Not Sunday. Not with the Clippers resting so many key guys.
Let’s just call it a gift from an old friend -- Ty Lue. One the Cavs gladly accepted this time.
Finally
Allen, hardly known for his perimeter shooting, buried his first 3-pointer of the season late in the third quarter and celebrated by straightening his afro with three fingers used to signal the make. Allen had missed his first seven attempts to open the season. He hadn’t made a triple since Nov. 5, 2021.
“Felt good to see it finally go in,” Allen said. “Been holding the celebration back for so long. It finally felt good to do it.”
Up next
The Cavs will continue their homestand Tuesday night against the Miami Heat. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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