The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Washington Wizards with a 148-114 victory in the NBA Cup, improving their record to 1-1. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland led the charge with 24 and 20 points, respectively, along with nine assists each. The Cavaliers narrowly missed setting a franchise record for regulation points, falling just one point short of their 149-135 win over Denver on December 28. However, they did achieve a record-breaking 154-153 quadruple-overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980, and another 148-point game in December 1991 against Miami. After losing their Cup opener to Toronto, the Cavaliers have now won three straight games, with Mitchell's absence due to a hamstring issue being a notable factor.
In contrast, the Wizards have struggled, losing seven consecutive games and failing to win an NBA Cup game in the tournament's three-year history. CJ McCollum scored 25 points for Washington, but it wasn't enough to secure a win. The Cavaliers' strong performance was supported by Evan Mobley's 18 points and 10 rebounds, Jarrett Allen's 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Tyrese Proctor's 17 points. The team also dominated the boards with 25 offensive rebounds.
Looking ahead, the Cavaliers will host Chicago, while the Wizards will face Dallas, both on Saturday night. The game highlights the ongoing challenges for the Wizards and the Cavaliers' recent resurgence, leaving fans eager to see how these teams perform in their upcoming matches.
