The Cleveland Cavaliers begin their 2024-25 NBA season in less than a week, but players are still keeping their eye on another local team during the MLB playoffs. Donovan Mitchell and Georges Niang were left stunned, just like all of Ontario Street, when the Guardians earned one of their most electrifying victories of the last decade.
The ballclub blew a two-run lead in the eighth inning and entered the ninth trailing the New York Yankees, 5-3. Down to its last out, Cleveland turned to slugger Jhonkensy Noel. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native blasted a pinch-hit two-run home run off closer Luke Weaver, a supremely clutch shot that reverberated throughout the whole city.
Cavs players go bonkers for Guardians
“Wow Cleveland must be going bananas right now,” Cavs forward Georges Niang posted on X, formerly Twitter. “GOTTA BE !! !! !!” star guard Donovan Mitchell chimed in.
The Guardians solidified their great escape in the 10th inning after utility man David Fry launched a walk-off homer versus Clay Holmes. What seemed destined to be a heart-wrenching and American League Championship Series-defining Game 3 loss amazingly turned into an unforgettable feat of resiliency.
Two unlikely heroes have guaranteed that the team will host Game 5 on Saturday. Will this be a catalyst for a landmark upset, or is this just a temporary dose of euphoria before the Yankees land a fatal blow this weekend? Who knows, but Stephen Vogt’s scrappy group is giving Cleveland a triumph to savor.
While Mitchell has witnessed his beloved New York Mets craft their own improbable journey to the playoffs, he obviously has some enthusiasm to spare for the team that resides just a couple minutes away from his Cavs. He and Niang are surely taking note of the October sorcery that Jhonkensy Noel, David Fry and the rest of the Guardians just released in Progressive Field.
Maybe they can use some of the leftover magic to help the Cavaliers jump start their own notable campaign.
