The Cleveland Cavaliers prove just how dangerous they are with fourth-quarter comeback
The Cleveland Cavaliers prove just how dangerous they are with fourth-quarter comeback originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Cleveland Cavaliers just proved why they're going to be a hard out in the NBA Playoffs this season.
On Saturday, the Cavs took on the New Orleans Pelicans and during the course of the game, found themselves trailing 90-76 to start the fourth quarter. A lead that gave the Pelicans a 93. 7% chance of winning, according to ESPN .
It was a stat that would leap to 96% after the Pelicans pushed the lead to 95-81 with just 9:13 remaining. Then the incredible happened. The Cavs took that 14-point deficit and erased it with a 19-4 run over the next five-plus minutes of gameplay.
That stretch would see the Cavs take a one-point lead with just 4:10 left in the game, thanks to James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, who combined for 17 points during that swing. The Cavs would see both of their star guards have nice nights, with Mitchell finishing with 27 points, three assists, and seven rebounds, while Harden finished with 20 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. The star guards weren't the only ones who stepped up in the comeback victory as Evan Mobley finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
A nice night for the former Defensive Player of the Year, who played the New Orleans game without his running mate down low in Jarrett Allen, who was out for the Cavs victory. More: Bucks wanted reigning Defensive Player of the Year from Cavaliers in trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo Despite not having Allen, the Cavs had a massive night rebounding. They pulled down 55 on the game, with Sam Merrill (10), Max Strus (8), and Thomas Bryant (8) all having at least eight rebounds on the night.