On January 15, Beijing time, the NBA regular season, the Spurs played at home against the Cavaliers. The Spurs started off a little slower and hotter, and the Cavaliers managed to widen the points gap to double digits. The Spurs found their form in the second quarter and successfully turned the score back, and the Cavaliers re-established a five-point lead under Garland to end the first half. The two teams continued to glue in the second half, with the two sides drawing several times in the fourth quarter, and the game needed to be fought until the last minute to decide the winner.
Garland scored a layup at a crucial moment to secure a six-point lead for the team. Although Murray hit a three-point shot six seconds before the final, Garland's free throw sealed the win for the team. In the end, the Cavaliers maintained their lead until the end of the game, narrowly defeating the Spurs 114-109, winning three consecutive games while giving their opponents five consecutive defeats.
Statistics
Cavaliers: Garland 30 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists, Mobley 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Allen 17 points and 16 rebounds, Markkanen 8 points and 6 rebounds, Stevens 8 points and 6 rebounds, substitute Osman 14 points
Spurs: Murray 30 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists, Johnson 168 points and 5 rebounds, Vassell 10 points and 5 rebounds, Pelter 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks, substitute Forbes 15 points, Walker 11 points and 6 assists
The Star of the Field
Garland had 32 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists in this game, making him the best player on the team. He scored 10 points in the final quarter to regain the lead for the team in the moments when they were behind. He scored a layup at a crucial moment to seal the game for the Cavaliers.
Highlight moments
Murray broke through and scored
Murray continued to turn to small throws
Garland hit stevens with a dunk
Garland and Allen complete the air connection
Mobley chased after the big hat
Mobley air-to-air dunk
Forbes 3+1 on three points
Garland's half-time over-the-top whistle three-pointer
Game review
At the start of the first quarter, Allen scored a free throw to open the way for the Cavaliers. Garland hit a three-pointer, Mobley stopped on a jump shot and the Cavaliers started 6-0. Murray scored four straight points, Garland scored a basket, Johnson scored a layup, and Markkanen scored with a snap. Stevens cut a dunk, Garland hit a three-pointer and Mike Demot three-pointers back in color. Allen scored in the air, Mike Demot went in on a three-pointer, Diop backhanded a layup and Garland hit a three-pointer. Murray picked up the basket, Love cut the layup to score, Forbes and Goodwin scored three points, Mobley and Osman scored consecutive points, and Love made up the basket. The first quarter ended with the Cavaliers leading the Spurs 35-26.
At the start of the second quarter, Vassei stopped a jumper, Mobley scored four consecutive points, and the Cavaliers pulled the point difference to double digits. Goodwinche stepped on a jumper, Vassell hit a three-pointer, Markkanen scored on a jumper and Murray broke through to make a layup. Forbes hit a three-pointer, Allen hooked a score, Murray scored 4 points in a row, Allen scored a layup, Murray stopped and went in, and the Spurs narrowed the gap to 2 points. O'Corro scored 1 of 2 free throws as Randell scored 2+1 to help spurs equalise. Walker broke through and scored, Johnson hit a three-pointer, Osman hit a jumper, and Walker responded with a jumper. The Cavaliers hit an 8-0 offensive culmination, and as Garland hit a three-pointer from a long-range whistle at half, the Cavaliers led by five points into the second half. At the end of the half, the Cavaliers led the Spurs 64-59.
Easy side to fight again. Vassell hit a three-pointer, Allen made 2 free throws after inflicting a foul, Murray stopped the jumper, Johnson hit a three-pointer, and the Spurs rebounded again. Allen scored on a layup, Mobley scored a dunk, Murray scored four straight points and Garland hit a jumper. Love hit a three-pointer and Mike Demot responded with a three-pointer. The Spurs hit an 8-0 offensive surge, with Okoro scoring a jumper and Murray scoring on a layup. O'Corro scored with a dunk and Diop scored on a jumper. Osman pressed a three-point shot. The third quarter ended with the Cavaliers trailing the Spurs 84-86.
At the start of the final quarter, Garland jumped to help the Cavaliers equalize. Markkanen scored with a dunk, Diop scored on a jumper and Garland scored on a jumper. The two teams scored alternately, and the point difference has been difficult to open. Garland drifted on the shot, Osman made a layup, Johnson and Vassell scored consecutive points, and the two teams drew again. Osman made 1 of 2 free throws and the Cavaliers led by 1 point. Markkanen made a layup, Allen scored inside the box, and the Cavaliers led by five points. The Spurs failed to score any points in nearly five minutes, and Walker made a free throw to stop the team. Garland's layup gave the team a six-point lead. Murray hit a three-pointer and Garland sealed the win on 2-of-2 free throws. In the end, the Cavaliers won the game on the road.
Both sides started
Cavaliers: Garland, Stevens, Markkanen, Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Spurs: De Chantai Murray, Vasell, Mike DeMotte, Kelden Johnson, Pelter
(Text/Yuwen Basketball)