Cavaliers pull away from injury-ravaged Grizzlies
Feb 1, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward-center Santi Aldama (7) blocks the shot of Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half at FedExForum. credits: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Donovan Mitchell scored 25 points and handed out seven assists as the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers won their fourth straight game, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 108-101 on Thursday.
Hours after being chosen as one of seven Eastern Conference All-Star reserves, Mitchell hit a 3-pointer to put Cleveland ahead 101-97 with 2:42 remaining.
After the teams exchanged baskets, Max Strus' 3-pointer with 1:16 left capped an 8-2 run and gave the Cavaliers a seven-point cushion.
Caris LeVert finished with 16 points off the bench for Cleveland, which improved to 12-1 over its past 13 games. Strus recorded his sixth career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen had 14 points and nine rebounds before exiting with a left ankle injury in the third quarter, ending his career-high streak of double-doubles at 16 games.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the injury-plagued Grizzlies with 25 points. Santi Aldama had 18 points and nine rebounds, Vince Williams Jr. scored 17 points, and GG Jackson and Scotty Pippen Jr. finished with 10 apiece.
Memphis lost its third straight and fell to 5-17 at home. The short-handed Grizzlies played without nine players, including Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Ja Morant, Luke Kennard and Derrick Rose.
Memphis shot 41.1 percent from the field and 12 of 38 (31.6 percent) from 3-point range. Cleveland hit 47.7 percent of its field-goal attempts and 14 of 35 (40 percent) from long distance.
After the teams ended the opening quarter tied at 27, Memphis opened the second period on a 14-3 run to move ahead 41-30. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 13 points in the first half for the Grizzlies, who took a 58-51 lead into intermission.
The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 12 in the second quarter before regaining the lead at 73-72 on Isaac Okoro's trey with 4:51 left in the third period.
Cleveland shot 64.7 percent in the third quarter and took an 81-80 lead into the final period.
The Cavaliers played without Evan Mobley, who sat out the second night of a back-to-back due to left knee injury management.
—Field Level Media