The Cleveland Cavaliers have now won two games in a row after getting rolled by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, and they still hold the NBA’s best record at 36-6.
On Monday, they routed the struggling but star-studded Phoenix Suns 118-92, and Donovan Mitchell shined brightly by scoring 33 points, giving him his third 30-plus point effort in the last four games.
But Mitchell downplayed his big game by saying that this victory was a team effort, per FanDuel Sports.
What was the biggest factor for the Cavs in the win?
It's always a group effort. 🕷️#LetEmKnow | @SerenaWinters pic.twitter.com/rjtMHp7f6V
— FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland (@FanDuelSN_CLE) January 20, 2025
Five Cleveland players scored in double figures, including rookie guard Jaylon Tyson, a player who has made almost no impact this season but came off the bench to record 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal in 15 minutes.
The team was able to get the job done very well without starting power forward Evan Mobley, who sat out due to a calf ailment and has raised his offensive game this season.
Defensively, the Cavs also did well by holding Kevin Durant to 23 points and Devin Booker to 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting while forcing Booker into six turnovers.
Off the bench, little-used veteran big man Tristan Thompson stepped up by grabbing 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Coming up for Cleveland is two games versus the Houston Rockets over the next five days, and that will give them the opportunity to further prove that they have a great shot at winning this season’s NBA championship.
The Rockets have the second-best record in the Western Conference, and those two games will be a tug of war between the Cavs, who are basketball’s best offensive team, and an excellent defensive team in the Rockets.
NEXT: Fans React To Cavs' Win Over Suns
