CLEVELAND — In a decisive match, Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 24 points while Jarrett Allen recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds, resulting in a 115-105 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday evening. This win marked the Wizards’ 18th loss in their last 19 games, further highlighting their struggles this season.
Donovan Mitchell contributed to the Cleveland offense with 20 points, and Garland also tallied eight assists to aid their performance. With this victory, the Cavaliers improved their record to 22-4, maintaining a 1.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics as the top team in the league. Despite leading the NBA in field-goal percentage, Cleveland’s shooting performance was below par, managing only 39.6% from the field, which is their lowest this season.
Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro supported the team with 14 and 13 points, respectively, while the Cavaliers struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 15 of their 51 attempts at three-pointers. For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly matched his career-high with 27 points, while Jordan Poole added 17. Justin Champagnie also made a notable contribution with 16 points and eight rebounds, but Washington continues to languish at the bottom of the league with a disappointing 3-20 record.
Notably, Alex Sarr, the No. 2 overall draft pick, made his return following a two-game absence due to back soreness. He made a strong comeback, hitting his first five shots, including a three-pointer, and ended the night with 14 points and seven rebounds over 27 minutes of play.
In the Cavaliers’ roster, power forward Evan Mobley was absent due to a sprained left ankle sustained in their last game against Miami. Coach Kenny Atkinson reassured that the injury is not expected to be serious or long-term.
A significant moment in the game came when LeVert contributed crucial four points during a vital 7-0 run for the Cavaliers, which spanned the last moments of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth, pushing Cleveland ahead with an 89-80 advantage.
With this victory, the Cavaliers improved their home record to an impressive 14-1 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, representing the second-best home record in the NBA, surpassed only by the undefeated Orlando Magic. Additionally, Cleveland achieved their 11th consecutive victory over Washington, marking their longest winning streak in the 55-year history of this matchup.
Looking ahead, the Wizards are set to host the Boston Celtics on Sunday, while the Cavaliers will travel to face the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
