Cavs News: Love’s back in the air, Wade update, Mitchell having ‘fun again’

On Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a game where they were poised to cruise, as the Cavaliers were facing off against an Orlando Magic club that was 5-17 coming in. The Magic are a club with a plethora of young talent, including the last No. 1 pick in Paolo Banchero, to go with Franz Wagner and others.

For much of the contest, the Cavaliers seemingly controlled things, and while the Magic did make it somewhat interesting in the mid-fourth quarter, the Cavs did put the clamps down enough when they had to, and Darius Garland and Evan Mobley nailed two crucial three-pointers down the stretch. The Wine and Gold would go on to land that victory, 107-96, largely driven by 34 points and seven triples from Donovan Mitchell.

One of the key performers from Friday was Kevin Love, who had missed the past six of the past seven games for Cleveland because of a hairline fracture in his thumb. Love would give Cleveland a lift in his bench minutes, and was one of two Cavaliers players to register a double-double, with Evan Mobley being the other. From Love’s perspective, he would have 11 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, and drew two charges.

The Cavs benefited from Love’s presence being out there, as he always is a boost for ball and man movement in his minutes, and is arguably the team’s best defensive rebounder.

More Cavs news

There was some less than stellar Cavs news to come on Saturday, though. Dean Wade, who returned last week from a six-game absence due to knee soreness, only played 10 minutes on Friday because of a shoulder injury.

The Cavaliers, ultimately, will reportedly be without Wade on Sunday at the New York Knicks, and he could be out for “multiple weeks,” per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

J.B. Bickerstaff also added that Wade has been enduring shoulder pain for “quite some time,” via Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid and Fear The Sword, so Wade being out from there was hardly surprising.

One would assume Lamar Stevens should stick with the Cavaliers starters, in the mean time, and Cleveland will need Cedi Osman, among others, to help out.

On a lighter note, since he’s been with the Cavs following his trade acquisition from the Utah Jazz back in September, it’s been evident that Donovan Mitchell has really enjoyed being with his new team, and he’s seemingly loving Cleveland. As for the basketball element, and realistically, the change of scenery, it was telling how Mitchell emphasized postgame on Friday how he’s “having fun again,” via Fedor.

Mitchell was adamant about how he has love for all the guys he’s played with over the years, and it wasn’t a dig, by any means, at the Jazz. But it just seems clear, as Fedor’s report laid out, that Mitchell is in a terrific situation with his new team, and that’s energized him.

NBA news

As for some around the Association updates from Saturday, there wasn’t a ton of action, one would assume with college football largely taking the spotlight, but a few things that had catch fans’ eyes were Andrew Wiggins leading the way for the Golden State Warriors with 36 points in a win over the Houston Rockets. Golden State would have a big first quarter in that one over the youthful Rockets, and would largely cruise.

Additionally, the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder came up big in the fourth quarter over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 135-128 victory. And last but not least, the most noteworthy individual performer was Anfernee Simons, who had a career-high 45 points in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 116-111 win at the Utah Jazz. Simons, undoubtedly, has arrived.

Next up for the Cavs: In their upcoming contest, the Cavaliers will face the New York Knicks on Sunday evening at Madison Square Garden.