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On Sunday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the NY Knicks 126-109, relying on Ricky Rubio’s 37 points and Evan Mobley’s 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the NY Knicks
The Cavaliers have a 7-4 record this season, and perhaps even more impressive, the away record is 5-3. Rubio coming off the bench is everything (and some) the Cavaliers hoped for when he was traded in the summer. He made 8-9 three-pointers, assisted 10 times, and made only 4 turnovers. When he is on the court, his ability to break the defense through passing and feeling (plus one of the best shooting nights of his career) benefits Cleveland.
Game progression
As for Mobley, the Cavaliers’ No. 1 pick may have played his best overall game on Sunday. He was very efficient on the court, shooting 9-11 from the three-point line. And hitting two career-high three-pointers, and adding some short passes. On the defensive side, he did everything. He was defending Knicks All-Star Julius Randle roaming the center of the zone to cut off the pass, etc.
Elsewhere, the Cavaliers performed well in Darius Garland. He scored 16 points with a 6-14 total field-goal percentage but 4-5 three-pointers, and when the team needed his out-of-nothing shooting, he made multiple shots against defenders. Jarrett Allen was also very good, scoring 18 points and 17 rebounds with Mobley in the frontcourt.
The Cavaliers
The Cavaliers’ only flaw on Sunday night was an injury to Collin Sexton’s left knee. He only played 13 minutes before leaving the game. According to the team, his future status has yet to be determined. With their record and the team united by rotation injuries, the Cavaliers have to be excited about the start of the season. The victory over a truly outstanding Knicks team in New York may be their best moment so far.
TIP-INS:
Cavaliers: Cleveland’s future backcourt may depend on the duo of Sexton and Garland. The Cavaliers may have a frontcourt duo, Allen and Mobley, in the 2021 draft. They are the third overall pick in the 2021 draft. “The longer he is on the court, the more good things happen because he is that type of player,” Bickerstaff said of Mobley before the game.
Knicks: Before the game, New York coach Tom Thibodeau said that starting point guard Kemba Walker would not play due to an undisclosed injury, and “medical staff recommended a break.”
Credits: newyork.cbslocal.com, fearthesword.com
Credits featured image: Jean-Baptiste Bellet, Flickr
