Darius Garland poured in 23 points to lead the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers to a 124-113 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night, securing their 17th win in 18 games at home. Evan Mobley recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell matched Mobley’s 22-point performance. Sam Merrill contributed a season-best 20 points, and Garland dished out eight assists for the Cavaliers. Cleveland, boasting a record of 26-4, has cruised to five consecutive victories with an average winning margin of 20 points.
Off the bench, Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 27 points, Lauri Markkanen added 26 points, and Collin Sexton chipped in 24 points. It was a noteworthy trade between the two teams on September 1, 2022, as Utah sent Mitchell to Cleveland in exchange for Markkanen, Sexton, and multiple draft picks.
The game’s commencement was delayed by 35 minutes due to a broken rim, necessitating the replacement of one of the hoops and a stanchion.
In terms of standout performances, Jazz center Walker Kessler dominated the boards with 16 rebounds, eight of which were on the offensive end. However, Kessler struggled from the free-throw line, going 1 for 6 in the final four minutes as Cleveland deliberately fouled him. Kessler currently holds a 53.6% free-throw shooting percentage.
For the Cavaliers, Sam Merrill made his second start of the season at small forward, draining six 3-pointers on 11 attempts. The Utah State product exploded for 14 points in the initial eight minutes of the third quarter, propelling Cleveland to an early double-digit lead.
A pivotal moment occurred when Georges Niang converted on a backdoor layup with 52 seconds remaining, then forced a turnover on Jordan Clarkson and assisted Caris LeVert for a dunk, extending Cleveland’s lead to 122-113.
Collin Sexton, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cavaliers, currently holds the fifth-highest scoring average in franchise history at 20.0 points per game. He follows behind LeBron James (27.2), Donovan Mitchell (26.7), World B. Free (23.0), and Kyrie Irving (21.6).
Looking ahead, the Jazz will conclude their five-game road trip with a matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, while the Cavaliers will face the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
