On Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers started off pretty well, and were knocking down their share of looks early on. Then the Boston Celtics closed the first quarter strong, and ended up being up two after those first 12 minutes.
They would carry that momentum forward, and in the second quarter, were hitting everything. Boston had 41 points in that period, and while Cleveland was moving it well, and hitting shots still, the C’s were having their way and after that second quarter, it seemed as if they could very well be in line for a victory.
Boston was up 75-62 at halftime. That said, the Cavs responded well in the third quarter, and they tightened the screws defensively. By the end of that quarter, they got themselves right back in it, and in the fourth, it was more back-and-forth play with blow clubs exchanging blows down the stretch. The fourth wasn’t a high scoring quarter for either side, but there were some crucial plays by both then.
Granted, the Cavaliers did have some miscues here and there in some inopportune times, but the group came up big shot after big shot in the game, and in overtime, Cleveland earned a hard-fought, 132-123 road win. And regardless of Boston being without Robert Williams III (knee) (which will be the case for a good chunk of the year), both Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert went off, to say the least.
Both of those guys had 41 points, with Mitchell and LeVert hitting five and six triples each, respectively, against one of the league’s still-most talented defenses. In the contest, those two combined for the most points by a Cavaliers backcourt in a regular season game in team history, per the Cavs.
41 🤝 41@CarisLeVert and @spidadmitchell combined for 82 points against the Celtics — the most ever by a Cavs backcourt in a regular season game! pic.twitter.com/uGAJo5iGR7
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 29, 2022
It was a historic night for the pair of teammates, and Mitchell has continued to play outstanding ball early on for the Wine and Gold.
Even still, LeVert’s play for Cleveland has been very impressive, and that was a heck of a night from him, and his best game in a Cavalier uniform to this point, following his trade acquisition last season from the Indiana Pacers. He’s making things happen in multiple ways so far this season as well.
LeVert had a night to remember in that Cavs win at the Celtics on Friday, and he’s been making winning plays thus far this season.
LeVert had it rolling on Friday, as we alluded to, and that scoring total of 41 points was the fourth-highest of his career, as noted by Basketball Reference. LeVert also went about his business by going 12-of-21 from the field, and hit a whopping six of his eight three-point shot attempts.
He was knocking down big shot after big shot in crunch time, and in overtime, had 11 points, including him knocking down two threes, and he cashed in at the foul line. At the stripe, he was five-of-five in that period, and in the game overall, was 11-of-12.
Heading into the game on Friday, LeVert had also connected on 10 of his 21 deep attempts so far on the season, a 47.6 percent hit rate. That’s been encouraging, and on Friday, he couldn’t miss. He was hitting step backs, and setting up his looks with his pull-up threat consistently, and in other outings, he’s had some success doing so.
On catch-and-shoots so far this season, he’s been much better than I would’ve anticipated, too, and I have to give him his credit for that. Now, when Darius Garland is back from an eye injury, I’ll have to see whether LeVert can keep being efficient from three-point land.
But thus far this season, even with struggles as a driver, and two-point scorer, for the most part (24.3 percent through five games), he has still made winning plays in other ways. And that has been something that’s definitely jumped out to me.
In that Boston game, LeVert also had seven assists in the contest, and in these games without Garland, his playmaking, in tandem with Mitchell, has been invaluable. On the season, LeVert has now posted 6.4 assists per contest, to 2.4 turnovers. His steady play in hitting sprayouts to other shooters has been big, and he’s also hit some key interior feeds off his drives, which has made a difference.
In addition, LeVert has made some crucial plays on the defensive end so far this year, and while I do have my concerns about him, Mitchell and Garland together for elongated stretches of games, if he can keep up his on-ball effort, maybe that can work. As a team defender, his activity has been terrific, too, and in that Boston game, he had three huge steals, including one in overtime to essentially put the game on ice in picking off a Jayson Tatum kickout pass.
It’s been five games, so you have to take it with a grain of salt, as is the case with other players, but LeVert having 1.4 steals in that span has helped the Cavaliers there, and in getting out in transition.
As for more on the two-way impact from LeVert, him currently placing first in the league in total plus-minus, per NBA.com, has been pretty damn stellar. It’s been five games, of course.
Taking everything into account, though, if LeVert can stay healthy (a big if), and mesh with Garland and Mitchell for legit stretches, when DG is back, maybe he’ll keep proving me wrong about his outlook as a starter.
I still have my reservations about that, but so far, LeVert has been outstanding for the 4-1 Cavs. That win at the Celtics was one that I’m sure will always stick with him as well, and rightfully so.