CLEVELAND, Ohio — Back in the win column.
The Cavs, without several key contributors, delivered a wire-to-wire 128-100 victory over the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Pelicans arrived battered, with eight of their top nine scorers sidelined. But for the Cavs, this game presented a challenge of focus and discipline.
“I like games like this,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said pregame. “It tests your whole roster and gives opportunities to guys who’ve been grinding behind the scenes.”
True to his word, every active Cavalier saw minutes. Atkinson handed rookie Jaylon Tyson the first start of his career, a nod to the 20-year-old’s hard work and promise. Tyson finished with a near triple-double: 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in 37 minutes.
But Tyson wasn’t the star of the show, although he logged the most minutes.
The final score underscored Cleveland’s dominance, yet the story lay in the artistry of their rising spark plug: “The Microwave” Ty Jerome.
Starting in place of Darius Garland (groin), Jerome cooked the Pelicans early and often. By halftime, the 27-year-old backup had shattered his career scoring high with 27 points, fueled by a second-quarter explosion where he poured in 20 points and drilled seven 3s in the first half.
Jerome’s torrid stretch helped Cleveland post a 40-point second quarter, giving them a 14-point halftime cushion. From there, the defense took over.
The Twin Towers — Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley — turned the paint into a no-fly zone in the third quarter. The duo combined for 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, anchoring a defensive effort that limited New Orleans to just five points through the first six minutes of the frame. The Pelicans shot 2 of 11 in that span, managing only a single attempt from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, Cleveland’s offense continued to sizzle.
Georges Niang caught fire in the third, knocking down four 3s en route to 14 points in the period, finishing with 20. The Cavaliers outscored the Pelicans 36-18 in the quarter, ballooning their lead to 32 by the start of the fourth.
With the game firmly in hand, Atkinson gave his stars an early exit, allowing the reserves to handle the rest.
Donovan Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen all logged fewer than 25 minutes, a welcome respite after a grueling stretch of 17 games in 28 days. Their next 17 games will be played over the course of 43 days.
Up Next
The Cavs get a well-earned three-day break before hosting the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET. With fresh legs and momentum, Cleveland will look to continue stacking wins.