Jarrett Allen in the infirmary, the Cavaliers change their system with Evan Mobley as the only interior, wingers Max Strus and Isaac Okoro accompanying the back line, Darius Garland.
And the Heat defector quickly shows what he can bring, with exterior shots in spades. He will finish with 27 points at 7/13 by far. Overall, Cleveland seems to have control of the match, even if the offensive talent of Cam Thomas coming off the bench (36 points in 25 minutes on the floor) allows the Nets to stay in the game.
And even take control at the start of the fourth quarter, when Mikal Bridges and Dennis Smith Jr join the party. JB Bickerstaff calls a timeout while Brooklyn has gone to +6 (101-95).
The Cavaliers then fought not to let this match slip away, Donovan Mitchell equalizing after a superb move against Mikal Bridges. But the latter serves Royce O’Neale at 3-points, and with several free throws, the Nets go back to +6 (111-105) with only 1m24 left to play…
It smells bad for Cleveland but Donovan Mitchell hits another mid-range shot and Max Strus shines again, countering Cam Johnson then going for the shots on the counter-attack.
In the process, Donovan Mitchell steals a ball to dunk and tie the two teams. But two shots from Mikal Bridges allowed the Nets to keep the lead (113-111) in the last twenty seconds. It’s again Donovan Mitchell who takes charge, a contact sending Cam Johnson to the ground, and the former Salt Lake City player being able to draw with space behind the 3-point line. 114-113 for Cleveland.
The Nets have a little time but they can’t get their system in place to serve Mikal Bridges, with Cam Thomas finally taking an impossible shot. The Cavaliers blow…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Cam Thomas’ 36 points. It’s a record for a substitute in the first match of the season and the walking firecracker from Brooklyn did his team good, when the starting duo at the back, Ben Simmons – Spencer Dinwiddie, compiled 9 points in total, at 3/9 on shots. On the other hand, he is clearly not ready to implement the systems, as the last action illustrates quite well…
– The impact of Max Strus. 27 points at 9/17 including 7/13 from distance, 12 rebounds and even a decisive block on Cam Johnson. It’s an understatement to say that the former Heat player made his debut in Ohio.
– Donovan Mitchell didn’t want to lose. The guard scored 10 of his 27 points in the final quarter, including his team’s final four baskets to snatch the victory for the Cavaliers.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
