The Cleveland Cavaliers engaged the Los Angeles Lakers in a significant cross-conference matchup on Wednesday night. The game marked the first time LeBron James returned to Rocket Mortage FieldHouse with his son Bronny playing on the same team as him. Nevertheless, Jarrett Allen and Cavs spoiled the Jameses’ return.
Allen amassed 18 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks in the first half. Ironically, he became the first Cavalier with those numbers in a half since LeBron James and 2017, per StatMuse.
Jarrett Allen finished the game with 20 points and 17 rebounds in 31 minutes. He had stout support from his teammates. Fellow frontcourt member Evan Mobley totaled 25 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell ended the matchup with 24 points, seven assists, and three rebounds.
On the other side, LeBron James did everything he could to help the Lakers in his homecoming. He finished with 26 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Bronny James got into the game for five minutes and scored two points along with two assists.
The Cavs’ all-around team effort resulted in a 134-110 victory. Still, the team has areas it can improve. One player Cleveland is seeing growth from is Darius Garland, who finished 10 points and 12 assists on Wednesday night. Donovan Mitchell sent a stern message to Garland’s naysers.
“I just want everybody who was on that side to stay on that side when it comes to him. I don’t want there to be a switch-up. I know who a lot of y’all are,” Mitchell said in reference to the incessant criticism Garland received in the last year. “There are times throughout your career when you have years like that. Obviously, he was going through things personally. You have to grow. You have to figure it out. A lot of people said he couldn’t.”
Garland and the rest of the promising Cavs squad continue to figure things out as they seek a deeper run in 2024-25.
