In Week 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers played every game at home, facing off against the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and the Portland Trail Blazers, concluding the week with a record of 2-3. Throughout these five games, the Cavaliers showcased moments of brilliance, adapting effectively to secure victories. However, they also experienced instances of subpar performance and significant meltdowns. Here's the recap of Week 5.
November 22, 2023, vs Miami Heat
The Miami Heat showcased their three-point craftiness by sinking a remarkable 20 shots from beyond the arc, overpowering a fatigued Cleveland Cavaliers team on the second night of a back-to-back. In a standout performance, Kyle Lowry nailed seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 28 points. Despite missing All-Star center Bam Adebayo due to injury, the Heat established a commanding 19-point lead in the first half and never relinquished control, securing their ninth win in the last ten games.
Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. delivered a career-best performance with 22 points, contributing to the Heat's impressive feat of having eight double-figure players—a franchise record. Notably, their reserves played the entire fourth quarter, underscoring the team's depth.
The Cavaliers, coming off a thrilling overtime victory against Philadelphia the previous night, saw their four-game winning streak end. Understandably fatigued, they struggled to keep pace with the Heat. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 14 and 13 points, respectively, while rookie Craig Porter Jr. scored a team-high 16 in his first career start. The absence of Donovan Mitchell, sidelined for the fourth consecutive game with a cautious approach to a hamstring injury, further compounded the Cavaliers' challenges.
Miami's strategic use of the three-pointer extended their lead in the third quarter, with Lowry contributing two more triples. The Heat's proficiency from beyond the arc, coupled with Cleveland's injury woes and the toll of the previous night's game, widened the gap to 101-79 by the end of the third quarter.
November 25, 2023, vs Los Angeles Lakers
The Cleveland Cavaliers welcomed the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly anticipated matchup that marked the return of former player LeBron James. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers faced a formidable Lakers squad that outperformed them on the court. The Lakers' dominance was evident as Anthony Davis showcased his skills, scoring an impressive 32 points, with 23 coming in the second half and grabbing 13 rebounds. LeBron James contributed significantly with 22 points, six rebounds, six assists, and two steals, leading the Lakers to a 121-115 victory on Saturday night.
Austin Reeves played a pivotal role for the Lakers, registering 15 points and ten assists, while Christian Wood and Max Christie added 13 and 12 points, respectively. The Lakers demonstrated their prowess by shooting at an impressive 52.2% and recording 34 assists on 47 baskets, securing their third consecutive road victory.
Donovan Mitchell returned to action on the Cavaliers' side after missing the previous four games with a right hamstring strain. However, Mitchell struggled, shooting 4 of 18 and finishing with 22 points and six assists. Despite his efforts, the Cavaliers couldn't overcome the Lakers' performance. Jarrett Allen contributed 21 points and 14 rebounds, while rookie Evan Mobley showcased his skills with 18 points and six assists. Max Strus added 13 points to the Cavaliers' effort in a losing attempt.
Concerns arose during the game as Mitchell had only six points in the second half, shooting 1-for-10, raising questions about a potential injury as he appeared to limp, adding a layer of uncertainty for the Cavaliers.
November 26, 2023 vs. Toronto Raptors
Following a narrow and thrilling defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring a reunion with former teammate LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back with an exhilarating victory against the Toronto Raptors on home turf. Darius Garland played a pivotal role, leading the Cavaliers with 24 points and eight assists. In comparison, Max Strus ignited a scoring spree with 20 points in the third quarter, ultimately securing a hard-fought 105-102 win.
The Cavaliers showcased their resilience, overcoming the disappointment of their previous loss to the Lakers. In addition to Garland's standout performance, Jarrett Allen contributed 18 points, and Evan Mobley demonstrated his versatility with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Despite holding a 1-2 record on their five-game homestand, the Cavaliers displayed determination and cohesion on the court. The matchup against the Raptors remained tight throughout, with the Cavaliers establishing their largest lead at 89-77 early in the fourth quarter, courtesy of a 3-pointer by Garland. A late-game surge led by Dennis Schroder posed a threat, but the Cavaliers managed to fend off the comeback attempt, securing the win. Raptors' center Jakob Poeltl had a stellar game, setting season highs with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Despite the Raptors' efforts, they fell to a 1-5 record on the road against Eastern Conference teams.
In his second game back after a four-game absence due to a right hamstring strain, Donovan Mitchell scored 10 points for the Cavaliers. However, Mitchell's shooting struggles persisted, making just 8 of 35 field goal attempts since his return. The Cavaliers faced a challenging first half against the Raptors, scoring only 42 points, but a rejuvenated energy emerged in the second half, showcasing the team's depth and resilience. Even with their star player not performing at his peak, the Cavaliers demonstrated their ability to adapt and secured a hard-nosed win at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
November 28, 2023 vs. Atlanta Hawks
In their third consecutive home game, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Atlanta Hawks in a crucial match for a wild card spot in the NBA In-Season Tournament. Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers fought hard but fell short against the New York Knicks, who had eliminated them in the previous season's playoffs. Despite Mitchell's impressive 40-point performance and Evan Mobley's career-high 19 rebounds and seven blocks, the Cavs finished 3-1 in second place in East Group A, narrowly missing a wildcard entry to the knockout round.
While their tournament title aspirations ended, the Cavaliers, improving in health, saw Mitchell deliver his best performance in weeks, shooting 14 of 25 with 11 rebounds. Darius Garland added 19 points, and the Cavs effectively contained the high-scoring Hawks, limiting them to .347 shooting – Cleveland's best defensive performance of the season. The Cavaliers outrebounded the Hawks 55-44 and dominated in the paint with a 64-32 advantage.
Despite keeping a close eye on the competition and clinging to a slim chance of advancing, the Cavaliers fell short in the point-differential tiebreaker. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff opted to keep starters in the game, but the Knicks secured the East's wildcard spot with a decisive 24-point win over Charlotte. Ultimately, the Pacers, Bucks, and Celtics emerged as the respective winners of East Groups A, B, and C.
November 30, 2023, vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In their 'worst' loss this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were booed at home. In their 'worst' loss this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were booed at home as the Portland Trail Blazers secured a 103-95 victory on Thursday night. Donovan Mitchell acknowledged the boos, stating, "If you don't play well, that's what you get."
Cleveland experienced a significant letdown after a strong win, falling to the Blazers, who claimed their second impressive road victory of the week. Shaedon Sharpe led Portland with 29 points, rookie Duop Reath added a season-high 13, and Jabari Walker grabbed 12 rebounds.
The Cavaliers, possibly overconfident after a recent tournament win over Atlanta, lost momentum, enduring over five minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter. Sharpe's pivotal layup with 1:33 left solidified the Blazers' lead, emphasizing Cleveland's poor performance despite being healthy and seemingly ready for a winning streak.
The Blazers overcame a rough first half, committing 15 turnovers that the Cavaliers converted into 23 points. However, a remarkable turnaround in the second half saw Portland outscore Cleveland 63-49, shooting 56.4% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Despite doing good things and creating a lead, Cleveland failed to sustain it, allowing the Blazers to go on decisive runs, according to Coach Bickerstaff.
Up Next
Cleveland faces Detroit, which aims to halt their 16-game slump. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-9, holding the eighth position in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (2-17, currently at the 15th spot in the Eastern Conference)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)