Danny Cunningham here, the host of the daily Locked On Cavs podcast, with your daily Locked On Cavs newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Cavs and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Cavalanche Strikes Again: Cavs Dominate Warriors in Stunning Third Quarter Run
Dec 30, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) react after a foul is called against a Golden State Warriors player during the third quarter at Chase Center. | John Hefti/Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to prove why they’re one of the NBA’s most formidable teams, showcasing their explosive potential in a 113-95 victory over the Golden State Warriors. This win, which pushed the Cavs’ record to an impressive 28-4, was highlighted by yet another “Cavalanche” – a term we’ve coined for the team’s ability to unleash devastating scoring runs that leave opponents shell-shocked.
Monday night’s game was a tale of two halves. The first half was a gritty, defensive struggle with both teams struggling to find their rhythm offensively. The Warriors did an admirable job of disrupting the Cavs’ flow, limiting our ability to penetrate and create easy scoring opportunities.
However, everything changed in the third quarter. What began as a tight contest quickly transformed into a Cavaliers showcase. In a blistering three-minute span, we outscored the Warriors 21-3, turning a five-point lead into an insurmountable 23-point advantage. This run was fueled by an incredible shooting display, with six of seven possessions resulting in three-pointers.
Donovan Mitchell was the catalyst for this explosion, draining four triples during this stretch. His ability to take over games in short bursts is a luxury for our team, allowing him to impact the outcome without having to shoulder the entire offensive load for 48 minutes.
This win wasn’t just about offense, though. Our defense held the Warriors to just 11 points in the second quarter, setting the stage for our second-half surge. While Evan Mobley had an off night, Jarrett Allen stepped up admirably, contributing 12 points and 9 rebounds in limited minutes due to foul trouble.
Darius Garland continued his All-Star caliber season with a stellar 25-point, 8-assist performance without a single turnover. His growth as a floor general and scorer has been crucial to our success this year.
The depth of our roster was on full display, with players like Dean Wade and Ty Jerome making significant contributions. Wade’s 13 rebounds were crucial in a game where we needed to limit Golden State’s second-chance opportunities.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Cavs’ dominant performance, tune into the Locked On Cavs podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Cavs Podcast:
• The importance of Dean Wade’s versatility
• Ty Jerome’s revenge game against his former team
• Preview of upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers
The NBA’s next generation of stars is already here
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. | Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Here’s something that will read like a riddle: When do you know the future has arrived?
Fitting, on the eve of a new year, to have one foot in the future and one eye still cast over the shoulder, looking back at the past. I value New Year’s Eve for this liminal space it lends, the opportunity to pause and consider the year that was and the one to come without a sense yet of its pressures. In-between spaces like this are rare in life, and if or when you find them, are nice not to rush out of.
Basketball has its liminal spaces too, though they’re a bit more rare. The time right after the Draft, when the next season’s rookies-to-be have their teams but no hulking expectations. The brief stretch between the regular season and the playoffs is another — the brackets set, but no competition commenced. It’s easier to tell in these situations when the future arrives, when the liminal space shuts.
But back to the riddle. Under the surface of this season’s NBA discourse, there’s been a persistent hum. With the inevitable aging of the game’s superstars comes the question of who’s next?
What confuses me is that I’ve mainly seen it asked in worry and incredulity, the implication being that there’s no one obvious, or ready, to fill those well-worn shoes. All it takes is a cursory glance at the season’s standings, now firmly set as we shift past the quarter mark, to see that the future is here — and it’s been humming for a while now.
The top four teams in the East and West all boast talent, skill, and star-power. Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns are the most established in terms of their fan familiarity, but Darius Garland, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, and Jalen Green are already on their way to being as regularly recited — and that’s really it.
When the skill and flare of an NBA athlete proves to have staying power, to dazzle consistently, the rest comes down to name recognition, which comes through repetition.
We’ve been saying the same big names for a long time now. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo — their names conjure stats and highlight reels in our heads.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
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Cavaliers @ Lakers
Tuesday, Dec. 31 | 6:00PM | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA | Get Tickets
Cavaliers @ Mavericks
Friday, Jan. 3 | 7:30PM | American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX | Get Tickets
Fantasy Basketball Roundup: Morant’s Injury, Waiver Wire Trends, and Monday’s Game Recaps
Dec 27, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after a screen by New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis (10) during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
As we enter the final week of 2024 for fantasy basketball, there’s plenty to discuss. Let’s dive into the latest injury updates, waiver wire trends, and recap Monday’s action.
Ja Morant’s Injury Update
The Memphis Grizzlies received some concerning news about Ja Morant. He’s been diagnosed with a right AC joint sprain in the same shoulder that was reconstructed last season. The team is considering him week-to-week, which typically means a minimum absence of one week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it stretches to two or three weeks.
The Grizzlies’ injury report is staggering. In addition to Morant, Marcus Smart is out for multiple weeks, Santi Aldama is week-to-week, and several others are sidelined. This situation could lead to increased opportunities for players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and John Konchar.
Waiver Wire Trends
Looking at the most added players over the last 48 hours, Scoot Henderson tops the list. With the Portland Trail Blazers dealing with injuries, Henderson could see increased minutes. However, I’m skeptical about consistent 30-minute outings for him.
Other notable additions include Scottie Pippen Jr., Justin Champagnie, and Keon Johnson. While Pippen seems like a clear add given the Grizzlies’ injury woes, I’m less convinced about Johnson’s role with the Brooklyn Nets.
On the drop list, Larry Nance Jr. leads the pack due to his broken hand. Brandin Podziemski and Royce O’Neale are also seeing significant drops, which aligns with my expectations.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Cavs podcasts.
Another Cavalanche! The Cavs destroyed the Golden State Warriors on Monday night behind one of the more impressive Cavalanches of the season.
To Trade or Not to Trade The Cavs are a team that could be making a move to bolster the rotation this season, what questions do they need answered before making a deal?
Is Sam Merrill the Sniper Back?? Sam Merrill nailed a season-high six 3-pointers against the Jazz. Could this be the end of his shooting slump?
