The Cleveland Cavaliers are still undefeated this season.
On the other hand, the New Orleans Pelicans are struggling with injuries and just trying to field a full team as they face the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
The Cavaliers are off to an 8-0 start, matching the 1976 team’s record. They’ve won their last two games against Milwaukee by one point and two points. Cleveland’s first six victories came with an average margin of 17 points.
“This is what it’s all about, right?” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. “These last five minutes, clutch minutes — and how are we going to execute? How are we going to finish this game? These are great if you want to succeed in the playoffs.
You’ve got to be really good in the pressure moments. I like that. We got pressure situations. We practiced it and fortunately came out on top.”
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, including the game-winning jumper in the final seconds, in a 114-113 win at Milwaukee on Saturday.
In Monday’s game, Mitchell only managed 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting, but Darius Garland stepped up with 39 points, leading Cleveland to a 116-114 victory. The Cavs closed the game with an 18-8 run in the final 6 minutes, and Garland’s 3-pointer gave them the lead for good with 45 seconds left.
“It can’t be Donovan every night,” Atkinson said. “Donovan’s been unbelievable and to his credit tonight, he knew he didn’t have it going, and he just said, ‘Go ahead DG, you got it.’ That’s how it works sometimes. That’s part of the strength of this group — that they’re selfless. They share it. Whoever’s got it going, they get him the ball.”
Atkinson mentioned that the Cavs didn’t have their usual energy after playing eight games in 13 days, but they “gutted it out” and got the win.
The Pelicans are facing their own set of challenges due to injuries to key players. In their 118-100 loss to Portland on Monday, Brandon Ingram was the only member of the Pelicans’ top five scorers available, and he scored 27 points.
Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Jordan Hawkins (back) are day-to-day, while Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy III are not close to returning. With so many key players sidelined, guard Brandon Boston Jr. has taken advantage of the extra minutes and has averaged 16 points over the last three games.
“He’s aggressive and assertive,” coach Willie Green said about Boston, who was signed to a two-way contract right before the season began. “He’s putting his stamp on every game and carving out an opportunity for himself.”
Boston will likely continue to get more chances to score, especially as Ingram is often double-teamed.
“(Boston is) another guard that can create,” Ingram said. “I think he got into his mix a little bit. He definitely provided some scoring for us, some good decisions on the offensive end. It was good to have him out there. … (I have to) stay aware, stay aggressive, don’t get frustrated (and) just keep going, find my shots when I can, keep my teammates involved and trust them to make the right play.”
