The Cleveland Cavaliers bid to continue their dominance of Western Conference representatives on Friday night when they complete a four-game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks.
The white-hot Cavaliers recorded their eighth straight double-digit victory with a 122-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. The lopsided decision improved Cleveland to a scintillating 9-0 versus Western Conference foes. To boot, they’ve won those games by a robust 16.3 points per game.
Impressive numbers to be certain, however Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson is keeping his eyes on the bigger picture.
“We know it’s about playoff performance,” Atkinson said. “That’s what it comes down to. You don’t want to be that team that everyone says, âOh, 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,” Atkinson continued. “We haven’t done anything yet. It’s great. Our record is great. 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 versus the Lakers.
“Star of the game without a doubt,” Atkinson said 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 in the rout.
On Thursday, Mobley was named the franchise’s first-ever NBA Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for games played in 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 3-pointers against Los Angeles.
Darius Garland collected 14 points and a season-high 14 assists versus the Lakers.
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 at least a month.
Houston native Quentin Grimes scored 17 points off the bench in Dallas’ 110-99 setback to the Rockets on Wednesday.
Former Cavalier Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Klay Thompson (illness) returned after one-game absences to contribute 16 points apiece in the loss to the Rockets. Thompson, however, lamented committing five of his team’s 20 turnovers in the loss.
“And that’s on me,” Thompson 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 sustained a right knee sprain in the first half against the Rockets. He did not return after halftime.
The Mavericks already are short-handed with forward Naji Marshall resigned to sitting out the final contest of his four-game suspension for his role in Friday’s altercation against the Phoenix Suns.
