CLEVELAND — A thrilling night unfolded for the Cleveland Cavaliers as De’Andre Hunter delivered a standout performance, scoring 32 points and hitting a crucial go-ahead 3-pointer with just 30 seconds remaining in overtime. This spectacular moment sealed a 133-129 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, marking Cleveland’s tenth consecutive win and crowning them as the first NBA team this season to reach 50 victories.
Despite trailing by 18 points in the third quarter, the Cavaliers mounted an impressive comeback to secure their 14th win in the last 15 games. They achieved this without the efforts of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who was resting as planned. Contributing to the victory, Ty Jerome netted 25 points, and Evan Mobley added another 20, fresh off an emotional win on Friday against Boston that saw them overturn a 22-point deficit.
Portland’s Deni Avdija made a significant impact too, recording 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, while Anfernee Simons added 27 points. However, it was a tense finish, as Simons sank a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left in overtime to push the Blazers ahead 129-128. But Hunter, acquired by Cleveland at the trade deadline, responded with a defining shot for the Cavs. In a last-ditch attempt, Avdija missed a 3-pointer with 6 seconds on the clock, and Hunter sealed the game with two decisive free throws, boosting Cleveland’s home record to 28-4.
Observations from the game revealed the Blazers challenged the NBA’s top team significantly before losing momentum in the final moments. For Cleveland, considering their demanding schedule in March — 16 games over 29 days — coach Kenny Atkinson plans to thoughtfully manage player rest as the playoffs loom.
A key moment came when Cavs guard Darius Garland, despite having a rough night at just 4 for 16 from the field, hustled back to disrupt a long pass in overtime that might have led to an easy layup, keeping Cleveland in the game.
The Cavaliers have exhibited magnificent form this season, achieving three separate double-digit winning streaks. After opening with 15 straight wins, they racked up 12 consecutive victories from December 13 to January 9.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will face the Philadelphia 76ers on the road on Monday, while the Cavaliers are set to challenge the Chicago Bulls in Chicago on Tuesday.
