Cleveland Cavaliers to test West dominance on road against Dallas Mavericks
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Cleveland Cavaliers recorded their eighth straight double-digit NBA victory with a 122-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec 31.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DALLAS – The Cleveland Cavaliers bid to continue their dominance of Western Conference representatives on Jan 3 (Jan 4, Singapore time) when they complete a four-game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks.
The white-hot Cavaliers recorded their eighth straight double-digit National Basketball Association (NBA) victory with a 122-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec 31.
The lopsided decision improved Cleveland to a scintillating 9-0 against Western Conference foes, whom they have beaten by a robust 16.3 points per game.
Those are impressive numbers, but Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson is keeping his eye on the bigger picture.
“We know it’s about play-off performance,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to.
“You don’t want to be that team that everyone says, ‘Oh, they’re a good regular-season team’.
“We have a day-to-day process that we are engaged in. That’s part of the humility.
“Donovan (Mitchell) says it all the time. Our guys say it all the time... We haven’t done anything yet. It’s great. Our record is great. But you have to prove it when it really counts. We’re anxious to get there.”
Jarrett Allen scored a season-high 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds against the Lakers.
“Star of the game without a doubt,” Atkinson added of Allen. “Did it on both ends.
“Super high energy. He is our underappreciated star.”
Mitchell had 26 points and Evan Mobley contributed 20 points and six rebounds.
On Jan 2, Mobley was named the franchise’s first-ever NBA Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for December.
Max Strus appears to be finding his game after missing the team’s first 27 contests with an ankle injury. He highlighted his 15-point performance with four three-pointers against Los Angeles.
Darius Garland collected 14 points and a season-high 14 assists.
While the Cavaliers are aiming to complete a perfect road trip, the Mavericks dropped the final three contests of their four-game trek while playing without superstar Luka Doncic (calf).
The five-time All-Star is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.
Houston native Quentin Grimes scored 17 points off the bench in Dallas’ 110-99 loss to the Rockets on Jan 1.
Former Cavalier Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Klay Thompson (illness) returned after one-game absences to contribute 16 points apiece.
Thompson, however, lamented committing five of his team’s 20 turnovers in the loss.
“And that’s on me,” he said. “I can’t have five turnovers. I had some uncharacteristic turnovers.
“I’ve got to be more sure with the ball, but I’ll be better in a couple of days against a really good team.”
Dallas forward P.J. Washington suffered a right knee sprain in the first half against the Rockets. He did not return after half-time.
The Mavericks already are short-handed, with forward Naji Marshall resigned to sitting out the final contest of his four-game suspension for his altercation against the Phoenix Suns. REUTERS
