Game ID: 22300265
Portland Trail Blazers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 25 21 29 20 95POR 22 18 34 29 103
CLE vs POR ScoutingCLE vs POR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 11/22 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT LeVert missed 2 since 11/19, returns tonight: 18 min (65% of 28)
OUT Okoro missed 8 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 11/13 after 2, 7 min since (41% of 17)
CLE availability going into 11/25 · 2 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 11/17, returns tonight: 35 min (98% of 36)
OUT Okoro missed 9 since 11/05, returns tonight: 18 min (70% of 26)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 18 min since (65% of 28)
NEW Wade 20 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 22 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 11/26 · back-to-backOUT Wade missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 35 min since (98% of 36)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 22 min since (78% of 28)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 18 min since (70% of 26)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 22 min since (78% of 28)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 14 min since (54% of 26)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 26 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 24 min since (84% of 28)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 15 min since (56% of 26)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 21 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 4 since 11/25, returns tonight: 2 min (15% of 17)
OUT Thompson missed 2 since 11/28, returns tonight: 2 min (23% of 11)
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 15 min since (58% of 26)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 18 min over the last 3
CLE availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Wade missed 6 since 11/22, returns tonight: 14 min (68% of 20)
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 34 min since (95% of 36)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 19 min since (71% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 2 min since (23% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT LeVert missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 14 min since (68% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT LeVert missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 19 min since (95% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 6 min since (37% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 8 min since (76% of 11)
POR availability going into 11/21 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 12 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Brogdon missed 5 since 11/12, returns tonight: 25 min (87% of 29)
OUT Henderson missed 8 since 11/03, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 11/14 after 6, 6 min since (35% of 16)
NEW Mays 17 to 29 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 11/22 · back-to-backOUT Simons missed 13 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Henderson missed 9 since 11/03, returns tonight: 17 min (59% of 28)
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 25 min since (87% of 29)
BACK Rupert back 11/14 after 6, 5 min since (29% of 16)
NEW Mays 17 to 27 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 11/26 · 3 days' restOUT Simons missed 14 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 2 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 24 min since (85% of 29)
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 17 min since (59% of 28)
POR availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Simons missed 15 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 3 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 28 min since (96% of 29)
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 22 min since (77% of 28)
POR availability going into 11/30 · 2 days' restOUT Simons missed 16 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Mays missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 4 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 30 min since (103% of 29)
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 22 min since (77% of 28)
POR availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 17 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Mays missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 5 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 30 min since (104% of 29)
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 22 min since (77% of 28)
POR availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Simons missed 18 since 10/27, returns tonight: 37 min (109% of 34)
OUT Murray missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 21 min (97% of 22)
OUT Mays missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 6 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 22 min since (76% of 28)
NEW Thybulle 23 to 29 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Mays missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 7 since 11/21, returns tonight: 8 min (71% of 11)
BACK Simons back 12/06 after 18, 37 min since (109% of 34)
BACK Murray back 12/06 after 4, 21 min since (97% of 22)
NEW Sharpe 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Thybulle 23 to 28 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Grant missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Mays missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Simons back 12/06 after 18, 37 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Murray back 12/06 after 4, 20 min since (91% of 22)
BACK Minaya back 12/08 after 7, 8 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Sharpe 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Thybulle 23 to 30 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Garland at 19 a game. Without Wade (4 straight), Merrill (3 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 25 and Brogdon at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Simons (16 straight), Murray (2 straight), Mays (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-2 a night and Portland minus-9. Call it Cleveland 114, Portland 109.
11/22 vs MIA 96-129 — CLE notes
CLE lost 96-129. CLE shot 47% (36 of 77) to MIA's 52%, 14 of 30 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIA's 21. CLE turned it over 19 times to MIA's 10, and MIA turned those into 11 steals. Porter Jr. led with 16 (6 of 12, 2 of 5 from three); Garland added 14, E. Mobley 13. Q2 was theirs, 29-32, but the other 3 periods went 97-67 against them. Porter Jr.'s -24 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/25 vs LAL 115-121 — CLE notes
CLE lost 115-121. CLE shot 47% (43 of 91) to LAL's 52%, 9 of 28 from three. Mitchell led with 22 (4 of 18, 2 of 6 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Allen added 21, Mobley 18. Q1 was theirs, 40-35, but the other 3 periods went 86-75 against them. Strus's -19 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 vs TOR 105-102 — CLE notes
CLE won 105-102. CLE shot 46% (45 of 97) to TOR's 42%, 10 of 31 from three, and got to the line 6 times to TOR's 29. Garland led with 24 (10 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Strus added 20, Allen 18. The hinge was Q3, 32-20: CLE came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 2. CLE trailed 42-52 at the half and won the second half 63-50. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
11/28 vs ATL 128-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 128-105. CLE shot 54% (50 of 93) to ATL's 35%, 13 of 36 from three, and got to the line 17 times to ATL's 24. CLE turned it over 16 times to ATL's 10, and ATL turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 55-44 for them. Mitchell led with 40 (14 of 25, 3 of 11 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Garland added 19, Mobley 17. The hinge was Q4, 26-15: a lead of 12 became 23. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/30 vs POR 95-103 — CLE notes
CLE lost 95-103. CLE took 12 more shots (89 to 77), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to POR's 51%, 7 of 32 from three. CLE turned it over 17 times to POR's 22. Mitchell led with 23 (7 of 20, 1 of 9 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Mobley added 20, Garland 15. Q1 was theirs, 25-22, but the other 3 periods went 81-70 against them. They led by as many as 16. LeVert's -17 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Ivey at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 14 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Eva. Mobley at 16 a game. Without Wade (5 straight), Merrill (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 112 a night to Detroit's 124 and the line, where Detroit takes 20 free throws a game to Cleveland's 14. Call it Cleveland 114, Detroit 112, Detroit keeping it close.
12/06 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 15 free throws a game; Mitchell at 23 and Garland at 17 a game. Without Wade (6 straight). 3 days' rest. Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 28 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 26 and Banchero at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Carter Jr. (15 straight), Fultz (12 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 42 percent from three to Cleveland's 31 and the line, where Orlando takes 28 free throws a game to Cleveland's 15. Call it Cleveland 114, Orlando 113, Orlando keeping it close.
12/08 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Butler III at 29 and Martin at 18 a game. Without Adebayo (2 straight), Herro (13 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 15 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 21 a game. Without LeVert (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Miami's 124 and the line, where Miami takes 24 free throws a game to Cleveland's 15. Call it Miami 114, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/11 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 25 and Banchero at 24 a game. Without Carter Jr. (17 straight), Fultz (14 straight), Isaac (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Garland at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without LeVert (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Orlando's 117 and the line, where Orlando takes 28 free throws a game to Cleveland's 19. Call it Orlando 114, Cleveland 111, Cleveland keeping it close.
11/21 @ PHX 107-120 — POR notes
POR lost 107-120. POR took 11 more shots (87 to 76), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to PHX's 57%, 14 of 31 from three, and got to the line 20 times to PHX's 28. Grant led with 26 (8 of 19, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Brogdon added 19, Ayton 18. Q2 was theirs, 30-22, the deficit cut from 13 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 98-77 against them. Ayton's -33 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 vs UTA 121-105 — POR notes
POR won 121-105. POR shot 51% (47 of 92) to UTA's 47%, 17 of 39 from three, and got to the line 15 times to UTA's 26. POR turned it over 13 times to UTA's 21. Grant led with 30 (10 of 13, 5 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Brogdon added 20, Walker 19. The hinge was Q1, 32-21: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Grant was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
11/26 @ MIL 102-108 — POR notes
POR lost 102-108. POR shot 41% (37 of 91) to MIL's 39%, 13 of 32 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MIL's 32. The glass went 40-52 against them. Grant led with 22 (7 of 18, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Brogdon added 18, Sharpe 17. Q2 was theirs, 37-26, but the other 3 periods went 82-65 against them. They led by as many as 26. Sharpe's -19 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/27 @ IND 114-110 — POR notes
POR won 114-110. POR shot 47% (40 of 85) to IND's 48%, 9 of 18 from three, and went to the line 31 times to IND's 24 — 25 points from the stripe to their 18. Grant led with 34 (12 of 18, 3 of 3 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Brogdon added 24, Ayton 22. The hinge was Q2, 35-26: POR came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 5. Thybulle was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
11/30 @ CLE 103-95 — POR notes
POR won 103-95. POR shot 51% (39 of 77) to CLE's 43%, 14 of 35 from three. POR turned it over 22 times to CLE's 17, and CLE turned those into 12 steals. Sharpe led with 29 (11 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Grant added 13, Reath 13. The hinge was Q4, 29-20: POR came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 8. POR trailed 40-46 at the half and won the second half 63-49. Reath was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/02 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 108, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 14 and Clarkson at 14 a game. Without Markkanen (4 straight), Hendricks (18 straight), Dunn (3 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Grant at 25 and Brogdon at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Simons (17 straight), Murray (3 straight), Mays (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the arc, Portland at 43 percent from three to Utah's 35 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-2 a night and Portland minus-5. Call it Utah 110, Portland 109, Portland keeping it close.
12/06 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 19 a game. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Paul (2 straight), Jackson-Davis (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 22 and Brogdon at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Simons (18 straight), Murray (4 straight), Mays (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-1 a night and Portland minus-7 and the defense, Portland allowing 107 a night to Golden State's 117. Call it Golden State 114, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
12/08 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sharpe at 22 and Grant at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Mays (5 straight), Rupert (5 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Irving at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Green (2 straight), Kleber (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Dallas's 10. Call it Dallas 112, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
12/11 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Coffey (3 straight), Tucker (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sharpe at 23 and Grant at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Grant (2 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Mays (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 14 times a game to the Clippers' 9 and the arc, the Clippers at 41 percent from three to Portland's 36. Call it the Clippers 115, Portland 107.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PORDA D. Ayton
DR D. Reath
JG J. Grant
JW J. Walker
MB M. Brogdon
MT M. Thybulle
SH S. Henderson
SS S. Sharpe
TC T. Camara
CLECL C. LeVert
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
POR/CLE the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Cavaliers booed at home during 'worst' loss this season as Trail Blazers beat Cleveland 103-95
CLEVELAND -- — Donovan Mitchell heard the boos directed at him and his teammates as the game slipped away in the fourth quarter.
He felt they were warranted.
“If you don’t play well,” Mitchell said, “that’s what you get.”
Cleveland had a major letdown following a solid win with its worst loss this season, 103-95 on Thursday night to the Portland Trail Blazers , who pulled off their second impressive road victory this week.
Shaedon Sharpe scored 29 points, rookie Duop Reath added a season-high 13 and Jabari Walker had 12 rebounds for Portland, which came in just 5-12 overall and 3-7 away from home. On Monday, the Blazers won 114-110 at Indiana.
The Cavs may have been a little overconfident after playing so well in a 23-point win over Atlanta on Tuesday in the NBA's In-Season Tournament. But whatever momentum Cleveland built, in what has been an up-and-down season so far, is gone.
“We’ve said this from the beginning, we want to be a championship-caliber team and we’re not playing like it," said Mitchell, who termed the loss a “turning point.”
“Let’s go,” he said. "This is the worst loss of the season. Let’s go. That’s it and it starts with myself. We’ll be fine. We’ll fix it.”
Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff kept his locker room closed an excessive amount of time before holding a brief postgame news conference during which he seemed in a daze.
What was the message to his players?
“Just trying to get an understanding of where we’re going and how we’re going to get there,” Bickerstaff said.
Sharpe went 11 of 15 from the field and added 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who scored 12 straight points in the fourth quarter to separate from the Cavs. Cleveland went more than five minutes without a field goal.
Sharpe's biggest bucket came with 1:33 left on a driving layup that put Portland ahead 99-91. After it dropped, he stood on the baseline and flexed for the crowd while shooting a glance at Cleveland's bench.
“Shaedon was special tonight and everyone else chipped in,” said Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. "He made big shots and got some grown man rebounds. I got on him at halftime because he was playing like we was in the summertime, playing pickup basketball.”
Mitchell scored 23 and Evan Mobley 20 for the Cavs. Darius Garland had 15 points, but the All-Star point guard was sloppy with the ball, committing eight turnovers.
It was a poor performance for Cleveland, which is finally healthy and looked ready to start stacking some wins.
This is a setback.
Mitchell understood the crowd's damning reaction.
“It’s part of the game," he said of the booing. "I’m not one that's anti that. You come in expecting us to perform a certain way, and we didn’t do that. If you want to prevent the boos, play well and win the game, so that’s part of it.
“I was booing when I was a kid too, so I understand. This city wants a championship and rightfully so, so we’ve got to go continue to strive for and handle our business.”
The Blazers trailed by 12 midway through the third before using a 16-3 run, capped by Matisse Thybulle 's short putback, to take a 74-73 lead.
The teams were tied at 83-all before the Blazers went on their game-deciding run, which Reath capped with a 3-pointer from the corner with 6:09 left.
Cleveland appeared on the verge of taking control early, outscoring Portland 15-2 in the first 5:38 of the second quarter to open a 40-24 lead.
However, Billups went back to his starting lineup and his club responded with a 14-2 spurt to pull within 46-40 at half.
The Cavs were guilty of settling for shots, a fact underscored by them attempting just one free throw in the first 24 minutes — on a defensive three-second technical.
“We didn’t play well enough," Bickerstaff said. "We did good things and we created a lead and didn’t do enough to sustain it. We do the right thing and good things happen, and we don’t and they are able to go on those runs.”