The Cleveland Cavaliers (39-9) kept their redemption train rolling on Thursday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, cruising to a 137-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. It was the latest chapter in a bounce-back effort after a frustrating three-game losing streak earlier in the week. With the opportunity to face off against two of the nine teams that had handed them losses this season, the Cavs seized the moment—most recently dismantling the Hawks, one of the two teams to defeat them twice in the 2024-25 campaign.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson admitted that he wasn’t sure what to expect, especially coming off a back-to-back game. “I was expecting us to be stuck in mud tonight,” Atkinson said in his postgame remarks. “... I’m like, ‘Man, if we don’t have to juice against this team, this could be a long night.’” But much to his surprise, the Cavs came out with energy, proving they had more than enough “juice” to power through. Atkinson credited the team’s mental toughness for their resilience, despite the demanding schedule.
As the game kicked off, Atlanta came out of the gates strong, jumping to an early 5-0 lead. However, it didn’t take long for Cleveland to find their rhythm, regaining the lead and never looking back. It was a dominant performance that kept the Hawks at arm’s length for the rest of the game. Despite this, Cleveland’s biggest issue in the first half was fouling. They racked up 14 personal fouls, putting Atlanta on the free-throw line 20 times. This allowed the Hawks to put up 63 points in the first half, with nearly a quarter of them coming from free throws.
The Cavs knew that in the second half, they needed to clean up their defense, limit fouls, and still maintain their presence in the paint. They came out of the locker room with a focused mindset, and the results were telling. In the third quarter, Cleveland held Atlanta to just five free-throw attempts, while outscoring them 39-21.
Atkinson noticed his team’s focus during halftime, recalling the conversations his players were having in the locker room: “Man, we got to keep these guys off the free throw line. If we do that, we’ll have a good chance of winning the game.” That commitment to discipline paid off as the Cavs only allowed seven free-throw attempts in the second half. This was a crucial adjustment and helped the Cavs take control of the game.
One player in particular had a lot to prove on Thursday night: Trae Young. After being snubbed from the All-Star reserves earlier in the day, Young clearly had a chip on his shoulder. He came out firing but struggled to get anything going against Cleveland’s defense. Without several key players—such as Jalen Johnson (who is out for the season with a torn labrum) and Clint Capela (suffering from back spasms)—Young was left to carry the offensive load for Atlanta. He finished the game with 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting, contributing 10 assists and two turnovers. But the Cavs made sure to limit his impact, especially in the second half, where he made only one basket.
Cleveland employed a suffocating 2-3 zone defense to disrupt Young’s rhythm, forcing him out of the paint and limiting his playmaking opportunities. Atkinson praised his team’s defensive approach, stating, “We really made an effort to pin him, try to keep him down. When he gets in the middle, he’s got everything—he’s got the lob, he’s got the kick to the corner. We made sure to keep him on the sidelines.” It was a defensive strategy that worked wonders and kept Young from getting into his usual flow.
On the offensive side of the ball, Cleveland was firing on all cylinders, with their three All-Stars taking center stage. Donovan Mitchell, already named a starter for the All-Star game, had the opportunity to welcome Darius Garland and Evan Mobley as his fellow reserves just before the game began. The trio didn’t disappoint, combining for a total of 66 points, keeping the Hawks' defense on its heels throughout the night.
Even with some key injuries—Dean Wade (knee), Caris LeVert (wrist), and Isaac Okoro (shoulder)—the Cavs’ depth stepped up in a big way. Cleveland had seven players score in double figures, and three of them reached the 20-point mark. Ty Jerome, a key contributor off the bench, anchored the second unit with a stellar performance, finishing with 20 points and six assists. This marked Jerome’s 13th career 20-point game, with seven of those coming this season.
But it wasn’t just individual performances that stood out; it was the Cavs’ team chemistry and ball movement that took center stage. With 35 assists on 53 made shots, Cleveland’s offense was a thing of beauty, a smooth and unselfish display of basketball that had everyone involved. As Atkinson put it, “Quite honestly tonight we didn’t really call many plays. That’s just them out there hoopin’.” The unselfish ball movement was praised by coaches from around the league, with many commenting on how well-connected and fluid the Cavs’ offense appeared.
With their top-ranked offense working in perfect harmony, Cleveland showed why they are one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA. They combined their offensive firepower with a smothering defense that wore down the Hawks throughout the game. The result was another dominant performance that further solidified their playoff potential.
It’s important to note that Atlanta was not at full strength, with several key players sidelined, and they won’t be returning this season. Jalen Johnson’s torn labrum and Clint Capela’s ongoing back issues left the Hawks shorthanded for the remainder of the year. But even so, the Cavs showed they can handle adversity and continue to adapt on the fly. Whether shorthanded or not, Cleveland demonstrated their ability to execute when it matters most.
The Cavs’ performance against the Hawks proved once again that they are a force to be reckoned with. They continue to evolve, adjusting their strategy as needed and showing an impressive level of skill and teamwork. As the season progresses, Cleveland’s ability to bounce back from tough losses, as they did after their recent skid, could be a defining characteristic of a playoff-caliber team. With a combination of offensive firepower, defensive discipline, and mental toughness, the Cavs are poised to make a deep run—and they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
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