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The shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the shorthanded Orlando Magic on Thursday night 118-94 on the road.
There are times during the season when the result of a game is inconsequential for different reasons. Thursday night’s game in Orlando was as inconsequential as it gets in the NBA.
The Cavs rested most of their rotational pieces as Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert were all given the night off after the team clinched home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs earlier this week.
That meant the Cavs starting five was Ricky Rubio, Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens, Dean Wade, and Robin Lopez. With help off the bench from Danny Green, Sam Merrill, Raul Neto, Mamadi Diakite, and Isaiah Mobley. This was a game that had zero impact on where the Cavs finish in the standings, and one where the Magic had more to gain by losing than they did winning. That’s why most of their players were inactive.
The most important thing that happened on Thursday night was that every member of the Cavs rotation left the Amway Center just as healthy as they entered it that afternoon.
It’s unclear if the regulars will play on Sunday in the regular season finale against the Charlotte Hornets. If they don’t, there will be at least 10 days in between games played, but that depends on whether or not the Cavs open the first round of the playoffs on Saturday or Sunday next week. Playing the regulars on Sunday could make some sense, if for no other reason than to avoid a layoff that long before the most meaningful basketball of the season.
At this point in the season, health matters more than almost anything. The situation regarding Isaac Okoro has been mostly unclear throughout the last two weeks since he left the game against the Houston Rockets on March 26. Other than that, everyone in the rotation for the Cavs seems to be in good health. Making sure that doesn’t change before the playoffs is a top priority.
Danny Green's big night
One of the bright spots on Thursday night was the play of Danny Green off the bench for the Cavs. Green signed with the Cavs shortly before the All-Star break and hasn’t played many meaningful minutes.
Prior to Thursday, the most Green had played in a game was 11 minutes and 48 seconds in his team debut back on February 15. Against the Magic, Green was spectacular. He finished the night with 21 points on 8-of-14 from the floor and knocked down five 3-pointers in 26 minutes.
With just one more game left in the season, it’s tough to see Green suddenly being inserted into a rotation that he hasn’t been part of at all. That’s a risky move. The fact that next week will be the 11-month mark since he tore his ACL in the playoffs while a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Part of the reason why he hasn’t been on the floor much for the Cavs is that he doesn’t seem to be moving all that well defensively. There’s never been a question as to whether or not he can stand in the corner or on the wing and knock down open shots. He’s one of the best shooters in NBA history. With how the Cavs are constructed, they’re going to play guys that are strong defenders as often as possible, especially with all of their primary guards undersized.
What Green did prove on Thursday night is that he can be, at the very least, a break glass in case of emergency player. If the Cavs need him, he’s going to be able to knock down open shots. There’s not going to be a moment that’s too big for him. There are very few players in the NBA with as much postseason experience as he has.
With the lack of minutes he’s played this season, it’s far from an ideal situation to be in. But in the playoffs if there’s a night when Osman, Stevens, or Wade isn’t playing well as Okoro continues to deal with his knee injury, Green proved to be a viable option.
The older Mobley
While Evan Mobley was on the bench the entire night, his older brother Isaiah Mobley stepped in and had himself a nice night.
He has spent this season on a two-way contract and spent most of his time with the Cleveland Charge, the franchise’s G League affiliate. Thursday was the most playing time he’s received with the Cavs and he took advantage of it.
Isaiah finished the night with 18 points in his first real action of the season. A night like that is a testament to the work he did all season with the Charge and the development he’s made as a player. Only time will tell what his future in the NBA looks like, in Cleveland or elsewhere, but Thursday night was a nice night for him.