Cleveland Snaps Streak After 126-113 Decision in Phoenix

Dillon Brooks paced both teams with 27 points one night after dropping 40 on the Pistons – going 9-of-14 from the floor, 7-of-8 from the stripe. 

*** The Wine & Gold’s West Coast trip rolls on this weekend, with Cleveland traveling to the Pacific Northwest for a Sunday night showdown against Deni Avdija and the Blazers. On Wednesday night, it’s a battle against James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and the red-hot Clippers in L.A. On Saturday, the Cavs travel up the coast for a battle with the Kings in Sacramento before wrapping up the five-game sojourn one week from Monday night in Denver. Cleveland comes home for one game – on Feb. 11 vs. Washington – before taking time for the All-Star Break. 

*** All good things come to an end, and on Friday night in Phoenix, the Suns bumped the Cavaliers off their recent rhythm – blowing things open in the third quarter and coasting to the finish line, snapping Cleveland’s win streak at five with the 126-113 decision.

The first half of Friday’s contest wasn’t pretty, but it was close – with Phoenix taking a five-point lead into the break. But the Suns started pulling away in the third quarter, running out to a 23-point edge late in the period. In the fourth, no starter logged more than two minutes, and Cleveland’s second unit actually trimmed a 33-point lead to 13 points in the final minute. 

Despite playing without All-Star guard Devin Booker, the Suns featured seven players in double-figures, shot 53 percent from the floor, drilled 23 three-pointers and outran the Cavs on the break, 34-16. Neither team was particularly sharp with the ball, each committing 22 miscues on the night. 

De’Andre Hunter led the Cavaliers with 17 points, going 7-for-15 from the floor to go with three boards, three assists and three steals in 23 minutes of work off the bench. 

Donovan Mitchell followed up with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, handing out six assists but also committing eight turnovers. Jaylon Tyson pitched in with 16 points of his own, going 7-of-13 from the field, adding four boards and three dimes. 

Jarrett Allen added 12 points and a team-high seven boards and Sam Merrill rounded out the Cavs starters in double-figures with 10 points. 

Nae’Qwan Tomlin came off the bench to finish with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Thomas Bryant added nine points, six boards and six assists. 

Despite the lopsided final score, the Cavaliers – especially the second unit – did some good things. As a team, they handed out 34 assists, racked up 56 points in the paint and outscored Phoenix in second chance scoring, 22-3. 

Like his starters, Coach Kenny Atkinson spent most of the fourth quarter as a spectator. After watching Cleveland attempt just two free throws through the first three quarters, he blew his cork one minute in the final period, picking up his second tech before being sent to the showers.