There is little more the Cleveland Cavaliers can do in the regular season to convince skeptics that they are the real deal. Most neutral fans will need to see the NBA’s leading team assert its greatness on the big stage before truly buying in. Nevertheless, the Cavs are forcing people to take further notice right now after accomplishing a remarkable feat on Tuesday night.
On the strength of Darius Garland, who scored 18 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter, Cleveland erased an 18-point deficit and outlasted the gritty Brooklyn Nets (22-43) in Rocket Arena. The 109-104 outcome gifts the Cavaliers their second 15-game winning streak this season, catapulting them into rarefied air.
Such an achievement has not been done since the Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire-led Phoenix Suns in the 2006-07 campaign. Ironically, that team faced a similar level of doubt that Cleveland has experienced in recent years. The Suns fell to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals, causing their magnificent regular season to quickly fade from memory.
Hopefully, for the sake of Cavaliers fans, this history-making night is not an eerie sign of what it is to come this postseason. Fortunately, this group is focusing on the present, not the past. Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and the rest of this group cannot completely wipe out their previous playoff pitfalls, but they can use them as fuel in 2025.
Cavs look to break through this postseason
Adversity can shape this franchise, once again. Cleveland can do what Phoenix failed to do almost 20 years ago and cast out its demons. Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson was hired to elevate this squad, and his future Coach of the Year award will prove that he has done exactly that. Although the playoffs will serve as the true measuring stick of the franchise’s success, the groundwork of a momentous postseason run is laid in the first 82 games.
Garland dished out eight assists and recorded four steals to go along with his 30 points versus Brooklyn. Evan Mobley totaled 21 points, nine rebounds and six dimes, while Jarrett Allen posted 23 points, 13 boards and three blocks. The Cavaliers overcame 23.8 percent shooting from 3-point range and imposed their dominance inside, outscoring the Nets 52-32 in the paint and winning the rebounding battle, 48-38.
The 55-10 Cavs have an eight-game lead for first place in the Eastern Conference and have already clinched the Central Division title (first since 2017-18). They can set a new franchise record if they earn their 16th straight win in a road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies (41-24) on Friday.
