Cavs Ring in the New Year With a 129-113 Win

*** After putting together one of the best wins of the season in the final game of their recent road trip, the Cavaliers’ next challenge was to repeat the feat when they returned home. 

The Wine & Gold answered that question almost immediately – running out to double-digit lead less than five minutes into the ballgame and essentially coasting from there – taking the 129-113 decision over the Suns to close out the calendar year with three straight wins on their home floor. 

After a stretch of slow starts in December, the Wine & Gold have begun jumping on teams early, and they did so again on Wednesday afternoon, taking a 16-point lead after one quarter and holding a double-digit lead through most of the next two quarters. Phoenix rallied late in the third quarter, drawing to within a deuce with under a minute to play in the period. But the Cavs bounced back from there, opening the fourth with a 19-5 run to cruise to the finish line. 

Following the win, Kenny Atkinson talked about is team’s quicker starts. 

“Getting that starting lineup back that’s been so successful, that’s part of it. Getting J.A. and Evan back together – they haven’t spent a lot of time together – is huge. But a lot of it has to do with who we have out there. That (starting) lineup’s been historically effective, so it doesn’t surprise me that we’re jumping off to these leads now.”

One game after holding the West’s hottest team to 39 percent shooting on Monday in San Antonio, the Cavs got defensive again on Wednesday, holding the Suns – who came to town riding a four-game win streak – to 40 percent shooting from the floor. Cleveland outrebounded the Suns, 54-52, handed out 30-plus assists for the fifth time in their last seven outings and racked up 56 points in the paint. 

Donovan Mitchell was one of three Cavs starters to record a double-double – leading both teams with 34 points, his seventh 30-point game in December and 18^th on the season, going 10-for-18 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from long-range and 10-of-12 from the stripe to go with 10 boards, a game-high seven assists, a pair of steals and a block. 

Jarrett Allen doubled-up in his second straight game – finishing with 16 points and 11 boards and Evan Mobley notched his 14^th double-double of the season, adding 16 points, 10 boards, five assists and a season-high-tying five blocks, equaling Phoenix combined team total. 

Darius Garland chipped in with 19 points and six assists, going 7-for-13 from the floor in the win. 

Devin Booker led the Suns with 32 points and Jordan Goodwin led both teams with 15 rebounds off the bench, eight off the offensive glass. 

Overall, the Cavs shot an even 50 percent from the floor, drilled 15 three-pointers and connected on 18-of-22 free throws.

*** Cleveland’s bench came up big again in the New Year’s Eve win – paced by Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill, who finished with 18 and 16 points respectively. Tyson – who’s shooting .454 from beyond the arc this season – went 3-of-6 from deep and 7-of-16 overall against Phoenix; Merrill – who posted his 12^thgame with at least three bombs – went 6-of-14 from the floor, 4-of-9 from long-range. 

Craig Porter Jr. didn’t have a big scoring night, but as usual, played a strong all-around floor game – leading Cleveland’s second unit with nine boards to go with three assists, a steal and a block.

*** After smushing the Suns on New Year’s Eve, the Wine & Gold open the 2026 calendar year on Friday night when the Nuggets roll into Rocket Arena before wrapping up the three-game home stand on Sunday afternoon against Cade Cunningham and the Pistons. Next week, the Cavaliers hit the road for a pair – traveling to Indiana on Tuesday followed by a Thursday night showdown with the T-Wolves at the Target Center.  Cleveland welcomes Minnesota back to Cleveland two nights later.