Cleveland Cavaliers go for franchise-record 16th straight win in clash against Memphis Grizzlies
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland drives to the basket in the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Arena.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MEMPHIS – How does anyone stop the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Without three key players – Donovan Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome – in their game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, the Cavaliers fell behind by 18 points. But they recovered, as they have done most of this National Basketball Association (NBA) season, behind the defensive efforts of Jarrett Allen and kept their winning streak alive.
When Cleveland visit the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 14 (March 15, Singapore time), they will be attempting to win their 16th straight game, a victory that would set the franchise record for consecutive wins.
The Cavaliers won 15 to start the season and have matched it by not losing since Feb 4.
The Grizzlies, who have won four straight, will try to play spoilers. However, they have had difficulties putting away struggling teams lately, so Cleveland would surely pose an even tougher challenge.
In their 122-115 win on March 12 over the visiting Utah Jazz (15-51), Memphis built a 19-point first-half advantage and led by 14 at half-time but could not maintain the cushion. In the end, they trailed by one with 1min 16sec left before recovering behind three-pointers from Luke Kennard and Ja Morant.
Before that game, in a 120-118 win over the Phoenix Suns, Memphis turned the ball over with a two-point lead in the final 10 seconds, allowing the Suns a chance for a game-winning three-pointer. But Kevin Durant’s deep three bounced off the back of the rim.
“I’m aware of our inability right now to stretch leads,” admitted Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins, who has much to prepare to welcome the mighty Cavaliers.
While Memphis have found a way to escape during their current streak, Cleveland have been able to survive no matter the circumstances. Without three of their key players, they still found a way.
Against the Nets it was the efforts of Darius Garland, who finished with 30 points and helped Cleveland clinch the division. He had an impressive 18-point fourth quarter.
“Darius is the clutch player of the year. He just does it in the fourth quarter. He’s done it all year,” said Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson, who was also impressed by his team’s never-say-die attitude.
“We were missing shot after shot. But it’s just to find a way (and go) deep into the roster. Our depth and our grit and our resiliency is something to behold. But 15 in a row? And doing it at this juncture of the season with fatigue.
“It’s really quite an accomplishment. We’ll look back at this and say this was some kind of an accomplishment.”
Over in San Francisco, Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history to make 4,000 career three-pointers as the Golden State Warriors extended their winning streak to a season-best six games with a 130-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings on March 13.
A day before his 37th birthday, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Curry was able to play a supporting role with 11 points for the Warriors, who led wire-to-wire and had eight players scoring in double figures at Chase Centre on March 13. REUTERS