Trapped in South Florida by a nationwide ground stop, a severely depleted Cleveland roster still managed a 127-117 win against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
- Tyrese Proctor delivered a massive breakout performance, securing his first career triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
- Depth pieces Mario Hezonja and Meleek Thomas stepped into expanded roles, scoring 22 and 20 points respectively to carry the short-handed rotation.
- Heavy bettors tracking the Cavaliers’ injury report were caught off guard as the entire starting five was ruled out just hours before tip-off.
Cleveland ruled out shooting guard Donovan Mitchell with a left knee bruise, point guard Harden due to a left calf issue, small forward Peyton Watson for a right hamstring strain, and center Jarrett Allen because of a left knee injury before the game, ESPN reported.
All four starters had played the previous night in a 133-122 loss to the Miami Heat during an NBA Cup contest. Power forward Evan Mobley also missed his second consecutive game due to a left big toe sprain suffered Wednesday in New York.
"You know how it goes in the NBA," Atkinson told ESPN, noting that his group had to manage unusual circumstances.
Fans at Rocket Arena expressed their frustration by booing loudly when the inactive players were announced prior to tip-off. Their substitutes quickly answered those boos with a well-balanced scoring attack across the floor.
Jaylon Tyson contributed 18 points, while Thomas Bryant added 19 to help offset the missing production. Riley Minix, Norchad Omier, and Craig Porter Jr. rounded out the active roster as the only other players to see minutes for Cleveland.
The nationwide ground stop on Friday forced the team to remain in South Florida following their matchup against Miami. They eventually flew home to Cleveland on Saturday morning.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrese Proctor | 24 | 11 | 10 |
| Mario Hezonja | 22 | – | – |
| Meleek Thomas | 20 | – | – |
| Thomas Bryant | 19 | – | – |
| Jaylon Tyson | 18 | – | – |
With tens of thousands of other travelers stuck in airports trying to reschedule flights, Atkinson refused to complain about the logistical nightmare.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Atkinson told ESPN. “We got lucky to get back into a hotel after the game because it was really busy in Miami. And we’re lucky we got out and got in here early today.”
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