Overview
- Cleveland beat Memphis 108-100 as Donovan Mitchell scored 14 fourth-quarter points, including three timely threes, to close out the game.
- The Cavs attempted 40 threes and made 32.5%, and only 20 of their 83 shots came in the restricted area, reflecting a season-long tilt toward perimeter volume without rim pressure.
- Evan Mobley was quiet for three quarters before a decisive late surge, reinforcing reporting that his consistency is central to the team’s ceiling.
- An early-season experiment making Mobley a primary initiator was abandoned after about five games, adding to questions about a clear offensive plan.
- Injuries to Darius Garland and Max Strus continue to scramble rotations, with metrics slipping to mid-pack on defense and lower than last season on offense as the team searches for a repeatable identity.