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By Anne M. Peterson
PORTLAND, Ore. — Rajon Rondo settled proper in together with his latest staff.
Quickly after coming into Friday night time’s sport in opposition to the Path Blazers, Rondo hit a 3-pointer and completed with 11 factors in Cleveland’s 114-101 victory.
“When Coach calls my title, I’m at all times making an attempt to be prepared,” mentioned Rondo, who was traded to the Cavaliers earlier this week. “Regardless if I begin, come off the bench, play 28 minutes or two minutes, it’s a terrific alternative to be right here and and play for this staff.”
Darius Garland had 26 factors within the Cavaliers’ twenty second win, matching their whole for all of final season after they completed thirteenth within the Japanese Convention.
Rookie Evan Mobley added 18 factors for Cleveland within the staff’s first victory in Portland since January 2013.
“It was enjoyable, the primary couple performs had been kinda like, `Dang, that’s Rondo on the ground.’” Garland mentioned. “New face, however it was cool — Rondo’s a extremely good man, he’s a terrific vet, he’s a frontrunner on the ground, so it was enjoyable enjoying with him.”
Norman Powell had 19 factors for the Blazers, who’ve misplaced six of their final seven video games.
“I assumed we performed laborious, thought we did some issues that we needed to do,” Powell mentioned. “I believe we had, once more, two or three minutes with some lapses that they countered. Dug ourselves into just a little gap, however we had been capable of reply.”
The Cavaliers led a lot of the sport, however Nassir Little’s 3-pointer acquired Portland inside 90-87 within the fourth quarter. Cedi Osman answered with a 3 for the Cavaliers.
Little hit one other 3 that narrowed it to 101-96 with 3:01 to go, however once more Osman got here again with a 3-pointer and the Blazers couldn’t catch up.
Rondo was acquired in a three-team commerce with the Lakers and Knicks earlier within the week. The 16-year NBA veteran got here into the sport with simply over 5 minutes left within the opening quarter and his 3-pointer gave the Cavaliers a 22-16 lead.
Cleveland was stung by absences attributable to COVID-19 protocols in current weeks, however the staff has largely reassembled. So far as integrating the most recent participant, coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned he needs Rondo to be Rondo.
“We simply need all of our guys, we wish them to be the perfect variations of themselves. So we gained’t put any restraints on him. We’ll let him play to his strengths,” Bickerstaff mentioned. “A few of that is feeling it out for us, determining combos and issues like that.”
Rondo, who performed just below 17 minutes, mentioned his mindset was “”simply to have enjoyable, go on the market and do what I do finest. Be myself. And coach Bickerstaff made me really feel comfy from bounce.”
Portland remained with out star guard Damian Lillard, who’s out due to stomach tendinopathy. Lillard has missed the final two video games and is anticipated to additionally sit out Sunday’s sport in opposition to Sacramento whereas he’s evaluated for the harm, which has bothered him because the Tokyo Olympics.
Fellow guard CJ McCollum was sidelined for the thirteenth straight sport for Portland due to a collapsed proper lung, whereas starter Larry Nance Jr. was out after hurting his proper knee throughout Wednesday night time’s 115-109 loss to Miami.
The Cavaliers went up by as many as 12 factors within the opening half and led 57-47 on the break. Garland led all scorers with 16.
Powell’s 3 pointer and a floater from Dennis Smith Jr. pulled the Blazers inside 79-76 late within the third quarter.
TIP INS
Cavaliers: Cleveland noticed the return of Osman, who missed six video games in well being and security protocols. … It was the primary of a six-game street journey for the Cavaliers.
Path Blazers: Heart Jusuf Nurkic hit a pair of 3-pointers within the first half, marking his first regular-season sport with a number of 3s. … Heart Cody Zeller returned after lacking 12 video games with a knee harm and a stint within the COVID-19 protocols.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Proceed their street swing at Golden State on Sunday night time.
Path Blazers: Host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The following night time they host the Brooklyn Nets in a sport initially set for Dec. 23.
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