The Cleveland Cavaliers had a chance to defeat the Washington Wizards, but were not able to come away with a win.
Done one with just over four seconds left in the game, Darius Garland attempted what would have been a game-winning three-point attempt. Unfortunately the shot did not go and the Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves on the losing end of a 97-94 final score.
Despite at one point leading by 10 points in the game, it was the fact that the Cavs were outscored by nine in the 4th quarter that made a difference. In close games teams cannot afford to be outscored late and that is what has happened to the Cavaliers. The fact of the matter is that Cleveland is still a young inexperienced team that is is learning how to win. Sure, the 7-4 record coming into the game, (now 7-5), has outperformed expectations, but everyone is mostly sure of where they will end up when the season is over. It is still a developmental year for this team and flipping the outcome is something they should learn how to do as the season progresses.
Game notes
Even though he was not able to make the final shot, Darius Garland was an impactful player in the game. Garland scored 19 points on 8-16 shooting (3-10 3PT) and also had four assists. If the Cavaliers are going to continue being completive they will need more outings like this from their best starting guard.
It was another impressive outing from Evan Mobley. The Cavaliers rookie finished with 19 point and seven rebounds in addition to two assists and one block. Cleveland’s combination of Garland and Mobley will be exciting to watch as the season continues.
Another game, another double-double for Jarrett Allen. Allen’s 13 points and 10 rebounds made it the fifth straight for the Cavs big man. This was the first game during this stretch which Cleveland did not come out the winner.
Ricky Rubio continues to be a key force off the bench for the Cavs. Rubio finished with a team0high 20 points and five assists. The veteran point guard has proven that he is a key piece for their team off the bench and is capable of making a tremendous impact in every game.
