The Cleveland Cavaliers knew they had to bring their A-game against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.
Donovan Mitchell took the night off, so they were without one of their star players.
Some thought the Cavaliers would take a step back in production without Mitchell on the floor, but that didn’t end up being the case down the stretch.
They certainly missed Mitchell’s presence on the floor, but other players stepped up to help the Cavaliers take down the Raptors.
Darius Garland was their biggest points contributor in Mitchell’s absence, putting up 40 points, and adding nine assists.
He was interviewed after the game, as FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland shared on X, talking about how he and the Cavaliers found a way to win.
“The fans helped us a lot, get through this game, so we appreciate y’all. It’s a whole team effort, though, it was a great team effort from everybody,” Garland said.
Darius Garland stepped up in a HUGE way with Donovan Mitchell sitting tonight.@cavs win number improves to 33! #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/YccDAyH5Lr
— FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland (@FanDuelSN_CLE) January 10, 2025
Garland and Mitchell have quickly turned into one of the best one-two punches in the league.
Even without Mitchell on the floor, Garland made a bigger name for himself in this game, showing what it takes to step up when others are out.
This team keeps winning games, no matter the situation or circumstance, making them a team to beat moving forward.
Given their depth and star power at the top of the roster, nobody wants to play this team at the moment, and it will be interesting to see if anyone can take them down in a seven-game series.
NEXT: Fans React To Cavs' Win Over Raptors
