All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and the Cleveland Cavs sent a message to the Atlanta Hawks in their 122-116 win against the Atlanta Hawks. Amid the Cavs’ final week of the regular season, Mitchell’s 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting led Cleveland to a six-point win.
Mobley, who added 22 points and 19 rebounds against the Hawks, revealed the Cavs’ added motivation ahead of Wednesday’s matchup, per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
“That was kind of the goal tonight — send a message,” Mobley said. “I think we did that tonight. We played a good game, and we gotta be ready to do it again and again in the playoffs.”
Wednesday’s win against the Hawks gave the Cavs a better feel for their potential first-round playoff opponent.
“I think the odds are us seeing them, so I think both teams are trying to send a message,” Mitchell said. “You could feel it in the arena. I think Friday is going to be the same thing. That’s what you want. You want the competitiveness from both sides. That’s what we do this for. Let the chips fall where they may.”
Either way, the Cavs’ latest win gives them confidence, as Evan Mobley noted.
“I think guys are ready,” Mobley explained when asked about the playoffs. “Mentally, physically, we’re getting there. It’s right around the corner, and we’ve got to be as ready as possible for this run.”
For Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, he’s seen his team make significant strides ahead of the postseason.
“I love the rep we got tonight,” Atkinson said. “That was a playoff type game. The ups and downs. We’re up and then they come back. Then you’ve got to execute at the end. We did a lot of good things.”
James Harden’s warning ahead of Cavs’ playoff run
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Cavs veteraan James Harden marveled at the thought of winning his first championship. Harden says it would be a testament to the hard work he’s put in throughout his 17-year NBA career, he said, per Andscape’s Marc Spears.
“I don’t think the world wants to see [my emotions] if that happens,” Harden said. “I put so much work into the game. Still to this day, I’m putting work in right now. I’m here for a reason, still putting in a high level [of shots] for a reason. I generally work my butt off. People don’t really see it, which is fine because I’m here for a reason.”
The Hawks, with only a half-game lead over the Raptors, would face the Cavs if the playoffs started today.