Cavs Take Down Wizards in 2nd Emirates NBA Cup Game

*** With the regular season wrapping up its second full week, the Cavaliers are starting to hum – and they were hitting on all cylinders in Friday night’s matchup in D.C., dominating the Wizards from the jump and cruising to the 148-114 victory at Capital One Arena.

The Wine & Gold evened their mark in NBA Cup Group Play at 1-1 in emphatic fashion – scoring at least 33 points in all four quarters, taking 29 more shots than Washington, canning 20 three-pointers, grabbing 25 offensive rebounds and getting 62 points from their second unit. 

Their 148-point performance is the second-highest road scoring total in team history, and the victory marked the Cavs 13^th straight against the Wizards, a stretch dating back to February 2022, winning by an average of 18.9 points per. 

Cleveland put this one on ice early, leading by 17 at halftime, by 23 after three quarters and by 37 before Washington’s Anthony Gill hit a three-pointer at the final buzzer. 

Donovan Mitchell didn’t post another monster performance, but Cleveland didn’t need one on Friday. He still notched a team-best 24 points, adding five boards, five assists and a game-high four steals in just 25 minutes of work. 

Darius Garland, in just his second game back after missing the first seven games following offseason surgery, was in midseason form – chipping in with 20 points and a team-high nine assists, drilling four triples in the win. 

Jarrett Allen was everywhere on Friday, notching his second straight double-double with 16 points and a game-high 14 boards – eight of those off the offensive glass – adding three dimes, a pair of steals and a block. In his last two games since returning to the lineup despite a fractured finger, JA is averaging 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds. 

Evan Mobley tallied his third double-double of the year, finishing with 18 points and 10 boards, adding three assists, a steal and a block. 

Overall, the Cavs shot 44 percent (20-of-45) from deep, outrebounded the Wizards, 57-44, and committed a season-low 10 turnovers. 

*** The Cavaliers bench was simply outstanding on Friday night – with Sam Merrill and rookie Tyrese Proctor combining for nine three-pointers. 

Merrill – who came into the game ranked 6^th among three-point marksmen at .550 – upped that number against Washington, going 4-for-5 from long-range in his second straight game after returning from a hip injury, finishing with 14 points in 18 minutes off the bench. 

The 6^th-year man (now at .578) has drilled at least three three-pointers – and notched double-figure scoring – in each of his six outings this year. 

Tyrese Proctor – the 49^th overall pick of this June’s Draft – was even hotter in his 18 minutes of action off the bench on Friday, going 5-for-6 from deep, finishing with a career-high 17 points to go with three assists and a pair of rebounds. 

Jaylon Tyson – the 20^th overall pick of the previous June’s Draft – tallied double-figure scoring in his fifth straight game, adding 10 points, four boards and a steal, drilling a pair of three-pointers. On the season, the sophomore from Cal is shooting .452 (19-of-42) from deep. 

Every Cavalier who suited up on Friday night scored.

*** The Cavs close out the second half of the weekend back-to-back on Saturday night when they welcome the Bulls – who fell by 16 on Friday in Milwaukee – to town for an 8 p.m. start. From there, the Wine & Gold hit the road – traveling to the sunshine state for a pair in Miami, taking on the Heat on both Monday and Wednesday night. The Cavaliers return to tip off a five-game homestand next Thursday when they welcome the Raptors to Rocket Arena – with visits from the Bucks, Rockets, Pacers and Clippers before they hit the road again.