CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs continued their redemption arc on Thursday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with a 137-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Coming into the week on a three-game losing skid, the Cavs had the opportunity to get back at two of the nine teams that had previously bested them this season. They handled them both, the latest coming against the Hawks, one of two teams to beat the Cavs twice during their 2024-25 campaign.
After the All-Star reserves were announced around 30 minutes before tipoff on Thursday, it was apparent that Trae Young, who was left off the list of players making the trip to San Francisco, was not satisfied with the result. He attempted to take it out on the Cavs. It didn’t pan out how he might have hoped.
Atlanta raced out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, but it would hold that lead for under four minutes before the Cavs regained the lead and never relinquished control.
The Cavs’ biggest first-half issue? Fouling.
They racked up 14 personals, gifting Atlanta 20 free throws — nearly a quarter of the Hawks’ 63 first-half points. But in the third, Cleveland cleaned it up, limiting Atlanta to just five free-throw attempts while outscoring them 39-21.
In the first half, the Cavs were called for 14 personal fouls, allowing the Hawks to go to the free throw line 20 times, converting 15 of their 63 first half points at the charity stripe. Cleveland had just nine free throw attempts in the first half.
The Cavs’ priority coming into the third period was to limit their fouling while still protecting the paint. They utilized the 2-3 zone to help them. In doing so, they held the Hawks to just 21 points to begin the second half, scoring 39 of their own with just five attempts from the free throw line.
Young and the Hawks were without several of their key pieces, including Jalen Johnson (torn labrum) and Clint Capela (back spasms). Atlanta’s point guard tried to shoulder the scoring load, but he scored just 15 points on 5 of 16 shooting from the field. He added 10 assists while committing two turnovers, and made just one bucket in the second half.
The Cavs’ three All-Stars took center stage. Mitchell, already named a starter, had Garland and Mobley join him as reserves just before tipoff — then the trio played like it.
They combined for 66 points.
Even when missing Dean Wade (knee), Caris LeVert (wrist), and Isaac Okoro (shoulder), the supporting cast pushed the Cavs over the edge. In total, the Cavs had seven players score in double figures, three scoring 20 or more points.
The Cavs’ top-ranked offense isn’t just firing on all cylinders — it’s orchestrating a masterpiece. With 35 assists on 53 made shots, their ball movement was poetry in motion, keeping everyone engaged and the Hawks scrambling.
While the Hawks weren’t at full strength and won’t be for the remainder of the season due to Johnson’s season-ending surgery, the Cavs continue to show how demoralizing they can be for opposing teams as they suffocate them on defense while effortlessly dismantling them on offense.
Cleveland made the most of its final shot at the Hawks, showing that even when shorthanded, it can adapt, adjust, and execute. That ability to learn on the fly isn’t just fueling regular-season success — it’s the kind of edge that defines playoff teams.
Up Next
The Cavs continue their three-game homestand against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday with tipoff set for 3:30 p.m. Eastern at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.