The Cleveland Cavaliers put on a clinic Monday night, delivering a dominant 118-92 victory over the Phoenix Suns in front of a sellout crowd of 19,432 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. From start to finish, the Cavs made it clear they were on a different level, showcasing their championship potential while highlighting just how far the Suns are from reaching that same caliber.
Leading the way for Cleveland was Donovan Mitchell, who dropped an impressive 33 points in just 29 minutes, showcasing why he's considered one of the league’s brightest stars. Darius Garland chipped in 16 points, while Jarrett Allen added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Cavs, now sitting at an incredible 36-6 record, led by as many as 32 points during the game, leaving the Suns in the dust.
For Phoenix, it was Kevin Durant who kept things respectable, finishing with 23 points, but he was left with little help. Devin Booker struggled, scoring just 15 points on 14 shots, and Tyus Jones added 13 points. Despite a strong performance from Durant and Booker in their previous game—a narrow 125-121 win over Detroit where they combined for 71 points—the Suns had no answer for the high-powered Cavs offense.
The game was a stark reminder of the gap between these two teams. Phoenix was outscored 66-43 in the second and third quarters combined, and their lackluster defense couldn’t slow down Cleveland’s explosive offense. The Cavs hit 19 of 46 three-pointers, good for a solid 41.3%, with five different players connecting on at least two triples. Cleveland’s ball movement was another key factor in their success, as they racked up 29 assists, moving the ball with precision and creating open looks at will. It was clear: the Cavs’ offensive fluidity was too much for the Suns to handle.
One of the most impressive aspects of Cleveland’s performance was their shooting from beyond the arc. The Cavaliers entered the game ranked first in the NBA in 3-point percentage (39.6%), second in 3-pointers made per game (16.1), and fifth in attempts per game (40.7). Against a Phoenix team that ranks 22nd in defensive rating, Cleveland was able to outdo even their own averages, hitting 19 threes. Garland got it started with a deep 30-footer, and Mitchell added his own splash from beyond the arc in the final minute of the third quarter, pushing Cleveland’s lead to 23 points.
The Cavs’ sharpshooters had the Suns scrambling all night. Garland connected on another bomb from 31 feet, and Max Strus—who is quickly becoming a reliable scorer for Cleveland—added two threes early in the third. Mitchell, meanwhile, continued to light it up, closing the quarter with two more threes to put the game out of reach.
While the Cavs’ offense was firing on all cylinders, Phoenix had no answer. Their inability to close out on shooters was evident, as Cleveland’s deep range left the Suns looking helpless. Durant’s frustration with Cleveland’s zone defense was palpable, as he noted that the Cavs were content to let the Suns pass the ball around the perimeter while keeping defenders in the paint, preventing easy looks. Durant expressed how tough it was to break down that defense, saying they should have attacked the paint more aggressively.
On the other hand, the Suns’ new addition, Nick Richards, had a game to forget. After an impressive debut in Phoenix's previous game, scoring 21 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against Detroit, Richards was ineffective in just 22 minutes of play. He scored only four points and grabbed four rebounds while committing five fouls. His struggles were part of a larger issue for the Suns, who were dominated on the offensive glass. Despite being without Evan Mobley, who was sidelined with a calf strain, the Cavs grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 23 second-chance points.
One memorable moment came when Jarrett Allen threw down an emphatic one-handed putback dunk early in the game, sending a clear message that Cleveland was going to dominate the boards, even with Richards on the floor. The Suns tried to counter with small-ball lineups, but nothing seemed to slow down the Cavs’ rebounding onslaught. The Suns’ struggles in this area were highlighted when Cleveland finished the night with a 15-6 edge in second-chance points.
Phoenix had come into the game ranked 24th in the league in offensive rebounds allowed, and the Cavs made them pay for it. Cleveland isn’t typically known for being an offensive rebounding powerhouse (ranked 22nd in the league), but their effort on Monday was nothing short of impressive. They were able to capitalize on nearly every opportunity, especially in the second half when the game was already out of reach.
Looking ahead, the Suns face more uncertainty, especially with Jusuf Nurkic’s status still unclear. Nurkic, who hasn’t played since January 7, is expected to be available when the Suns return home to face the Washington Wizards on Saturday. The Suns also need to figure out their frontcourt rotation, as Mike Budenholzer faces some tough decisions regarding the starting lineup. Will he continue to start Richards, or will he go back to Mason Plumlee, who played just four minutes on Monday?
Injuries continue to plague the Suns, with Bradley Beal making a quiet return from a left ankle sprain. Beal only managed five points and four assists in 25 minutes off the bench, but Phoenix will need him at full strength if they are to turn their season around. Nurkic, meanwhile, has been dealing with a variety of setbacks, including illness, and his absence has been felt. The Suns are hoping that his return will help shore up their defense and rebounding moving forward.
As the Suns conclude their five-game road trip with a matchup against the struggling Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, they are in desperate need of a win. Brooklyn, sitting at 14-29, has been reeling, dropping eight of their last 10 games. After a tough loss to Oklahoma City, the Nets will be looking to regroup, but Phoenix cannot afford another loss if they want to stay in playoff contention.
In the aftermath of the Cavs’ dominant win, the Suns’ players acknowledged just how much work they need to do to be competitive at the highest level. Durant gave credit to Cleveland for their stellar defense, especially their ability to slow Phoenix’s offense with their zone defense. Booker, too, noted how effective the zone had been in disrupting their rhythm, and Tyus Jones admitted that the team struggled to adjust to Cleveland’s defensive schemes.
Looking ahead, the Suns know they have their work cut out for them. As Beal pointed out, Wednesday’s game against Brooklyn is a must-win. If Phoenix has any hopes of turning their season around, they’ll need to fix their defensive lapses, get more consistency from players like Booker and Durant, and adapt to the tough defenses they’ll encounter down the stretch.
In contrast, Cleveland is riding high on their stellar play. They’ve established themselves as one of the NBA’s top teams, and with their balanced offense and suffocating defense, they’ll be a tough opponent for anyone moving forward. The Cavs' ability to hit threes at a high clip, control the boards, and distribute the ball efficiently makes them a dangerous team to face in the postseason. While the Suns may have learned a hard lesson on Monday, the Cavs are continuing their march toward contention, proving they are a team to watch closely in the coming months.
Login