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CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 26: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Rocket Arena on October 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Timberwolves 127-125 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers have waited for a significant offensive leap from Evan Mobley. Subtle improvements over the years have refined him into being an elite two-way player. But that next step was always a question mark. Would it be developing a mid-range game, or a go-to move around the basket? Or would Mobley step outside the three-point line and become a good enough shooter to open the floor for Cleveland? Right now, it sounds like the third option. Mobley has opened the season shooting 12-for-18 from downtown (66%). This is a blistering number that won’t be sustainable throughout 82 games — but it could mark the start of a career-best year. “I felt it in preseason, leading up to preseason,” said Kenny Atkinson. “There’s a shift in his demeanor… He put in the work. There’s a confidence to him now. It’s raised.” Mobley took six three-pointers on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards and nailed five of them. He had similar success in Cleveland’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this week, canning 4-of-5 attempts with three of his triples coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. Evan Mobley: 9 3PM in his last 7.5 quarters. Shooting with confidence. Very little hesitation. One fluid motion. Small sample size, but very encouraging early on #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/MePFrfzcWc— Mikey McNuggets (@MikeLucasTV) October 29, 2026 It’s one thing to take a three-pointer as a last resort. It’s another to launch them confidently even when the game is on the line. This is something Mobley began flashing in last season’s playoffs, but has taken to another level to start the year. “I think last year he’d kind of make 3s with time and space. I feel like this year he’s getting it off quicker. He’s making them with harder contests,” said Atkinson. “We saw it last year in the playoffs too, right? Detroit series, hit some big ones. Toronto series, hit some big ones. When a guy’s in a groove like this, we’ve got to find him a little more.” Mobley, always nonchalant, says his hot-shooting is simply a result of his work ethic. “Just confidence,” said Mobley. “The first few went in, so I just kept shooting them. Been working on them for years now. I feel confident in it, and I’m gonna keep shooting them.” The three-point shot is arguably the most valuable offensive tool a player can add to their game. Especially in the frontcourt. Cleveland has managed for years to navigate the lack of shooting in their frontcourt — but that awkward spacing might not be such a thorn in their side if Mobley can step outside and make defenses pay. “He’s just putting it all together,” said Jarrett Allen. “It opens the floor up to me. There’s not a lot of people in there, so I can do my work in there.” Nearly all of Mobley’s three-point attempts have been products of the defense sagging off him. In each of his last two games, Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis made a deliberate choice to ignore Mobley in favor of packing the paint. It was on Mobley to punish them for this decision, and he did. “If they keep playing like that, I’m gonna keep shooting it,” said Mobley. “So, until they close out really hard, I’m gonna just keep letting it fly.” Still, there’s pressure on Mobley to stick to his greatest strengths as a play-finisher around the basket. He’s spent more time on the perimeter than we’ve grown accustomed to. The increased shooting is great, but the Cavs don’t want Mobley to rely too heavily on it. “I still want him at the paint, at the rim, just finding that balance,” said Atkinson. “I think [his shooting] opens things up for us. He’s taking timely ones. He’s taking good ones. If he can hit 3s and still be the great defender he is and should be, that could be our next jump.” There’s a lot of season left and plenty of time for Mobley’s shooting to regress. That said, Mobley has given himself a strong foundation to build on. A full season of Mobley taking and making threes could change everything.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 31: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 31, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Milwaukee Bucks inside, leading to a runaway 136-111 victory. Three stars of the game First star: Jarrett Allen 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal Allen was an absolute force to be reckoned with. He relentlessly attacked the basket by rolling hard to the rim and looking for any opening he could find to make himself available for a pass inside. Defensively, he controlled the paint and cleaned up the glass. This was the ideal game from Allen. Second star: Evan Mobley 27 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal Basically everything I said about Allen could also be said of Mobley. He was aggressive offensively, attacking inside. And when the defense sagged off, he took the outside shot, going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. This game was the template from a process and results standpoint for Mobley. Third star: James Harden 13 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds Harden spread the ball around and looked to get the bigs involved. It was exactly what the Cavs needed from their starting point guard. Support us and Let ‘Em Know with HOMAGE! Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Jarrett Allen Fro shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. Dud of the game Bum: Tyler Herro 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists Milwaukee’s point-of-attack defense was a mess. Herro wasn’t the only reason to blame for that, but he was the most noteworthy example of someone who wasn’t upholding their end of the bargain. On top of that, Herro struggled to make anything happen as a scorer as he went just 5-for-18 from the field. Cavaliers who deserve shoutouts Donovan Mitchell 15 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, +31 Mitchell let the game come to him in a way that he doesn’t always do. He attacked when the moment called for it, and he deferred to his teammates when they had cleaner looks. This led to Mitchell controlling the game without controlling the ball, making room for the dominant performances from the bigs. Mario Hezonja 8 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists Hezonja thinks the game at a high level. He does a great job of reading how the opponent is playing, and then exploiting it to the best of his ability. In this game, that weakness was rebounding. Milwaukee had to send extra bodies to contain Mobley and Allen on both ends. Hezonja ducked inside around the help to grab 11 rebounds, including four on the offensive end. Play of the game Well, that's a new wrinkle. Mobley off down screen into Allen handoff to get him going downhill on the catch. pic.twitter.com/h7Qfr7zWv4— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) November 1, 2026 Plays like this show how dynamic the bigs can be when you give them an opportunity to do so. Forcing a forward to chase Mobley around a screen from a guard, then around a dribble-hand-off with Allen is incredibly difficult to do. I would love to see them incorporate more actions like this that force bigger defenders to guard in space and navigate screens like a guard. Quote of the day “It was part of our film session this morning, so it’s nice to see it transfer. Reward these guys, they’re both playing great. Sixteen shot attempts, we were very intentional about getting them the ball. Good job by our perimeters, finding those guys in the right spots.” – Head coach Kenny Atkinson Stat of the game Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley led the team with 16 shot attempts each. Allen and Mobley were aggressive in looking for opportunities to score, and their teammates were consistent in getting them the ball. That is a formula worth repeating. This game will be remembered for how the Cavs got the bigs involved Mobly and Allen were forces all night. Not just for a few minutes, not just for a quarter, but until the game was completely out of reach early in the fourth quarter. The bigs stayed aggressive inside, and their teammates kept feeding them the ball. Getting the bigs involved to this degree can destroy a defense. It’s similar to establishing the run in football. Once you control the line of scrimmage, the pass game opens up because the defense has to sell out to overload the box. Milwaukee’s defense tried to shrink the floor to stop Mobley and Allen. Defenders crashed down from the corners in an effort to cut off the initial drive, but this opened up the floor for everyone, including whatever big wasn’t the main focus of the defense. This allowed for some of the big-to-big passes and put-back offensive rebounds. This offense is at its best when they’re forcing the ball to the bigs, and the bigs are rolling hard and aggressively looking for openings to attack inside. Despite that, both groups have struggled to establish the bigs as consistent scoring threats for a full 48 minutes. Far too often, the Cavs abandon this formula when things get tough. Either the guards take it upon themselves to handle the majority of the scoring load or the bigs become passive and stop looking for opportunities inside — and usually it’s both. It’s not always this easy to establish the bigs as scorers. Milwaukee’s defense is bad and easy to exploit, but this formula should be more repeatable than it’s proven to be. Maybe this game can set them on the right path.

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick last June, will officially make his NBA debut Wednesday night in Cleveland. No more waiting ⌛️ @AJ_Dybantsapic.twitter.com/XCZ65MiPho— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) October 28, 2026 Dybantsa, 19, missed the Wizards' first four games this season due to a sprained left ankle suffered late in training camp. He steps into a Wizards offense already loaded with firepower, including Trae Young and Anthony Davis, the latter of whom has had a couple of very impressive games to start the season. Dybantsa comes to Washington as the hope for the future, the top pick who will change the fortunes of a long-middling (or worse) franchise. Dybantsa was a standout at BYU, averaging 25.5 points a game, and followed that with an impressive Summer League. Dybantsa looked like a rookie still finding his footing in the preseason, averaging 12.8 points per game, shooting just 18.2% from 3-point range. But that's just the preseason. Starting Wednesday night, things get real.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with referee Courtney Kirkland #61 during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Arena on October 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers clawed their way back from a 15-point first-half deficit to defeat the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves127-125 in an overtime thriller on Monday evening. However, they may have gotten some help from the referees in completing the comeback. Based on the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, the Cavs were the beneficiaries of two missed calls at the end of regulation and overtime that assisted in the victory. The first incorrect call came at the end of regulation. The league says that Anthony Edwards should’ve been awarded free throws on a drive to the basket in the final seconds of regulation.View Link Support us and rep the Buckeyes with Homage Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. The above shirt can be bought at the link HERE. Homage’s entire Ohio State collection can be found HERE. Peyton Watson made an impressive block on this play, but a shooting foul should’ve been called before then. According to the report, “[James] Harden initiates contact with Edwards’ arm, which affects his driving shot attempt.” It’s difficult to see any foul on this particular angle. Harden helps from the corner and reaches in on the drive, but there’s little to suggest a foul should’ve been called. Maybe a different angle would lead you to believe otherwise. Edwards does throw his palms up in frustration when he sees a foul wasn’t called, so maybe there was some contact there. If this was called according to the report, the Cavs would’ve likely needed to make a basket to tie or win the game in the final 4.2 seconds of regulation. The second missed call came at another important moment. LaMelo Ball shouldn’t have been charged with a foul on a late tie-up with Donovan Mitchell at the end of regulation.View Link The report states that: “Mitchell dribbles the ball off Ball’s (MIN) foot, which causes Mitchell to lose control of the ball. The ensuing contact that occurs after the ball is deflected is deemed incidental.” This is a much more obvious missed call than the first one. Here, Mitchell does seem to just dribble into Ball’s foot and lose the ball. Any contact that occurred was after Mitchell just dribbled straight into Ball. This whistle shouldn’t have blown, and play should’ve been allowed to continue. The closing seconds could’ve played out differently if this wasn’t called a foul. The Cavs earned a hard-fought victory on Monday. These two missed calls don’t take away from that, but Cleveland is fortunate that these decisions went in their favor.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 26: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Rocket Arena on October 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Timberwolves 127-125 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers have waited for a significant offensive leap from Evan Mobley. Subtle improvements over the years have refined him into being an elite two-way player. But that next step was always a question mark. Would it be developing a mid-range game, or a go-to move around the basket? Or would Mobley step outside the three-point line and become a good enough shooter to open the floor for Cleveland? Right now, it sounds like the third option. Mobley has opened the season shooting 12-for-18 from downtown (66%). This is a blistering number that won’t be sustainable throughout 82 games — but it could mark the start of a career-best year. “I felt it in preseason, leading up to preseason,” said Kenny Atkinson. “There’s a shift in his demeanor… He put in the work. There’s a confidence to him now. It’s raised.” Mobley took six three-pointers on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards and nailed five of them. He had similar success in Cleveland’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this week, canning 4-of-5 attempts with three of his triples coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. Evan Mobley: 9 3PM in his last 7.5 quarters. Shooting with confidence. Very little hesitation. One fluid motion. Small sample size, but very encouraging early on #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/MePFrfzcWc— Mikey McNuggets (@MikeLucasTV) October 29, 2026 It’s one thing to take a three-pointer as a last resort. It’s another to launch them confidently even when the game is on the line. This is something Mobley began flashing in last season’s playoffs, but has taken to another level to start the year. “I think last year he’d kind of make 3s with time and space. I feel like this year he’s getting it off quicker. He’s making them with harder contests,” said Atkinson. “We saw it last year in the playoffs too, right? Detroit series, hit some big ones. Toronto series, hit some big ones. When a guy’s in a groove like this, we’ve got to find him a little more.” Mobley, always nonchalant, says his hot-shooting is simply a result of his work ethic. “Just confidence,” said Mobley. “The first few went in, so I just kept shooting them. Been working on them for years now. I feel confident in it, and I’m gonna keep shooting them.” The three-point shot is arguably the most valuable offensive tool a player can add to their game. Especially in the frontcourt. Cleveland has managed for years to navigate the lack of shooting in their frontcourt — but that awkward spacing might not be such a thorn in their side if Mobley can step outside and make defenses pay. “He’s just putting it all together,” said Jarrett Allen. “It opens the floor up to me. There’s not a lot of people in there, so I can do my work in there.” Nearly all of Mobley’s three-point attempts have been products of the defense sagging off him. In each of his last two games, Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis made a deliberate choice to ignore Mobley in favor of packing the paint. It was on Mobley to punish them for this decision, and he did. “If they keep playing like that, I’m gonna keep shooting it,” said Mobley. “So, until they close out really hard, I’m gonna just keep letting it fly.” Still, there’s pressure on Mobley to stick to his greatest strengths as a play-finisher around the basket. He’s spent more time on the perimeter than we’ve grown accustomed to. The increased shooting is great, but the Cavs don’t want Mobley to rely too heavily on it. “I still want him at the paint, at the rim, just finding that balance,” said Atkinson. “I think [his shooting] opens things up for us. He’s taking timely ones. He’s taking good ones. If he can hit 3s and still be the great defender he is and should be, that could be our next jump.” There’s a lot of season left and plenty of time for Mobley’s shooting to regress. That said, Mobley has given himself a strong foundation to build on. A full season of Mobley taking and making threes could change everything.

Oct 28, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) celebrates his three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers coasted through the first half, fell down by double digits, and then turned it on down the stretch to grab their 17th straight win against the Washington Wizards with a final score of 121-111. Three stars of the game First star: Evan Mobley 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, 2 assists The Cavs ceiling changes if Mobley becomes a consistent and lethal three-point shooter. We saw that in Wednesday’s game as he went 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. This wasn’t just a one-off performance. Through four games, Mobley is 12-for-18 (66.7%) from three. “There’s a shift in his demeanor,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “There’s a confidence to him now. … The jumper looks quicker to me. It’s not just that he’s making them. I think last year he kind of made threes [when he had] time and space. I feel like this year he’s getting it off quicker. He’s making them with harder contests.” The Wizards had to change their defense to account for this. They didn’t give him the same time and space in the second half, which allowed the rest of the offense to flourish. On top of that, Mobley, along with Jarrett Allen, made it difficult for the Wizards to finish inside in the second half. Washington attempted just 13 shots in the paint in the second half after taking 31 there in the first. This was a solid and complete game from Mobley Second star: Peyton Watson 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 assists This was the first time we got a real taste of how helpful Watson can be for Cleveland. He was impactful attacking off the dribble, and more importantly, in creating out of the short roll when running pick-and-rolls with the starting backcourt. That was incredibly useful considering how the Wizards — and most of the other teams before them — were trapping Cleveland’s guards on high pick-and-rolls. “I loved the offensive part,” Atkinson said. “Getting in the pocket, making plays, driving [against] mismatches. He goes hard to the rim. Watson also made a difference as an offensive rebounder by creating five extra chances. Three of those opportunities directly led to points. Atkinson has consistently talked about wanting his team to do a better job on the offensive glass. Watson may be the answer here with his height and athleticism. Watson has a well-rounded and intriguing skill set that the Cavs are still figuring out how to best use. The early results are interesting. Watson provides a different dimension to how this team can play. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cavs fine-tune his role as the season progresses. Third star: Alex Sarr 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, 1 block Sarr was helpful for Washington on both ends. Offensively, he picked his spots well and finished looks that Trae Young and Kyshawn George created for him. Defensively, he had active hands in passing lanes and deterred shots at the rim. It was a solid game for a young player that is steadily coming into his own. Dud of the game James Harden 16 points on 5-of-18 shooting, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers Harden had a tough time finding a scoring rhythm. He led the Cavs in shots (18) but completed just 27.8% of them. This included missing a couple of point-blank floaters he normally converts. It’s unfair to blame Cleveland’s poor defensive start on one person, but Harden left a lot to be desired on that end in the first half. He lost his assignment repeatedly off-ball in the first half, which led to easy baskets. James… pic.twitter.com/JSvWTeG21Y— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) October 28, 2026 To his credit, Harden was good down the stretch. He got the Cavs into their offense and protected the ball in the second half. It wasn’t an outright awful game — just one where he could’ve been better. Support us and rep the Buckeyes with Homage Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. The above shirt can be bought at the link HERE. Homage’s entire Ohio State collection can be found HERE. Cavalier who deserves a shoutout Meleek Thomas 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal Wednesday’s performance wasn’t as noteworthy as his debut earlier this week, but it was a strong showing nonetheless. Thomas has found a nice balance on the defensive end. He’s not afraid to jump passing lanes and force the action, but this hasn’t come at the expense of losing his man or being out of position. It’s not uncommon for a rookie to be an active defender; it is uncommon for them to consistently be in the right place when they’re away from the play. So far, Thomas’s defensive positioning has been impressive. Offensively, he did a good job of slotting into more of an off-ball role. He was helpful attacking in transition and provided some scoring punch in the half-court. At this point, there isn’t a strong case for either Craig Porter Jr. or Tyrese Proctor getting minutes over Thomas. The rookie just adds too much as an offensive threat and active defender. “We found a guy that can really help us,” Atkinson said. Play of the game THIS IS CAVS BASKETBALL pic.twitter.com/sBDS0XBDky— ¹⁰ (@HoodiGarland) October 29, 2026 The Cavs are at their best when they’re regularly turning defense into easy opportunities the other end. That was a hallmark of the 2024-25 regular-season team that turned in 64 wins. We haven’t consistently seen that version of this team through four games, but little moments like this serve as a reminder that they may still get there. Quote of the day “The first few went in, so I just kept shooting them.” – Evan Mobley on going 5-for-6 from three Stat of the game The Cavs won the offensive rebounding battle 15-5, which led to them outscoring Washington 19-8 in second-chance points. The Cavs thoroughly controlled the glass and the overall possession battle. They outrebounded Washington 58-33. Cleveland won’t lose many games when they rebound like this. What this game will be remembered for Mobley’s breakout three-point performance A hot shooting week doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. The high variance of the shot can lead to drastic results in small sample sizes. This, however, tends to even out over time. From that perspective, Mobley hitting 11 of his last 14 threes might now mean much. At the same time, everything about the Cavs changes if he can develop a more consistent outside shot. Only time will tell whether this start is real. “We’re going to be really hard to stop,” Atkinson said when asked about how Mobley’s shooting can transform the offense. “If he can do that, hit threes and still be the great defender that he is and should be, then that could be our next jump.”

Oct 28, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) celebrates his three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers coasted through the first half, fell down by double digits, and then turned it on down the stretch to grab their 17th straight win against the Washington Wizards with a final score of 121-111. Three stars of the game First star: Evan Mobley 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, 2 assists The Cavs ceiling changes if Mobley becomes a consistent and lethal three-point shooter. We saw that in Wednesday’s game as he went 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. This wasn’t just a one-off performance. Through four games, Mobley is 12-for-18 (66.7%) from three. “There’s a shift in his demeanor,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “There’s a confidence to him now. … The jumper looks quicker to me. It’s not just that he’s making them. I think last year he kind of made threes [when he had] time and space. I feel like this year he’s getting it off quicker. He’s making them with harder contests.” The Wizards had to change their defense to account for this. They didn’t give him the same time and space in the second half, which allowed the rest of the offense to flourish. On top of that, Mobley, along with Jarrett Allen, made it difficult for the Wizards to finish inside in the second half. Washington attempted just 13 shots in the paint in the second half after taking 31 there in the first. This was a solid and complete game from Mobley Second star: Peyton Watson 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 assists This was the first time we got a real taste of how helpful Watson can be for Cleveland. He was impactful attacking off the dribble, and more importantly, in creating out of the short roll when running pick-and-rolls with the starting backcourt. That was incredibly useful considering how the Wizards — and most of the other teams before them — were trapping Cleveland’s guards on high pick-and-rolls. “I loved the offensive part,” Atkinson said. “Getting in the pocket, making plays, driving [against] mismatches. He goes hard to the rim. Watson also made a difference as an offensive rebounder by creating five extra chances. Three of those opportunities directly led to points. Atkinson has consistently talked about wanting his team to do a better job on the offensive glass. Watson may be the answer here with his height and athleticism. Watson has a well-rounded and intriguing skill set that the Cavs are still figuring out how to best use. The early results are interesting. Watson provides a different dimension to how this team can play. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cavs fine-tune his role as the season progresses. Third star: Alex Sarr 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, 1 block Sarr was helpful for Washington on both ends. Offensively, he picked his spots well and finished looks that Trae Young and Kyshawn George created for him. Defensively, he had active hands in passing lanes and deterred shots at the rim. It was a solid game for a young player that is steadily coming into his own. Dud of the game James Harden 16 points on 5-of-18 shooting, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers Harden had a tough time finding a scoring rhythm. He led the Cavs in shots (18) but completed just 27.8% of them. This included missing a couple of point-blank floaters he normally converts. It’s unfair to blame Cleveland’s poor defensive start on one person, but Harden left a lot to be desired on that end in the first half. He lost his assignment repeatedly off-ball in the first half, which led to easy baskets. James… pic.twitter.com/JSvWTeG21Y— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) October 28, 2026 To his credit, Harden was good down the stretch. He got the Cavs into their offense and protected the ball in the second half. It wasn’t an outright awful game — just one where he could’ve been better. Support us and rep the Buckeyes with Homage Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. The above shirt can be bought at the link HERE. Homage’s entire Ohio State collection can be found HERE. Cavalier who deserves a shoutout Meleek Thomas 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal Wednesday’s performance wasn’t as noteworthy as his debut earlier this week, but it was a strong showing nonetheless. Thomas has found a nice balance on the defensive end. He’s not afraid to jump passing lanes and force the action, but this hasn’t come at the expense of losing his man or being out of position. It’s not uncommon for a rookie to be an active defender; it is uncommon for them to consistently be in the right place when they’re away from the play. So far, Thomas’s defensive positioning has been impressive. Offensively, he did a good job of slotting into more of an off-ball role. He was helpful attacking in transition and provided some scoring punch in the half-court. At this point, there isn’t a strong case for either Craig Porter Jr. or Tyrese Proctor getting minutes over Thomas. The rookie just adds too much as an offensive threat and active defender. “We found a guy that can really help us,” Atkinson said. Play of the game THIS IS CAVS BASKETBALL pic.twitter.com/sBDS0XBDky— ¹⁰ (@HoodiGarland) October 29, 2026 The Cavs are at their best when they’re regularly turning defense into easy opportunities the other end. That was a hallmark of the 2024-25 regular-season team that turned in 64 wins. We haven’t consistently seen that version of this team through four games, but little moments like this serve as a reminder that they may still get there. Quote of the day “The first few went in, so I just kept shooting them.” – Evan Mobley on going 5-for-6 from three Stat of the game The Cavs won the offensive rebounding battle 15-5, which led to them outscoring Washington 19-8 in second-chance points. The Cavs thoroughly controlled the glass and the overall possession battle. They outrebounded Washington 58-33. Cleveland won’t lose many games when they rebound like this. What this game will be remembered for Mobley’s breakout three-point performance A hot shooting week doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. The high variance of the shot can lead to drastic results in small sample sizes. This, however, tends to even out over time. From that perspective, Mobley hitting 11 of his last 14 threes might now mean much. At the same time, everything about the Cavs changes if he can develop a more consistent outside shot. Only time will tell whether this start is real. “We’re going to be really hard to stop,” Atkinson said when asked about how Mobley’s shooting can transform the offense. “If he can do that, hit threes and still be the great defender that he is and should be, then that could be our next jump.”

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick last June, will officially make his NBA debut Wednesday night in Cleveland. No more waiting ⌛️ @AJ_Dybantsapic.twitter.com/XCZ65MiPho— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) October 28, 2026 Dybantsa, 19, missed the Wizards' first four games this season due to a sprained left ankle suffered late in training camp. He steps into a Wizards offense already loaded with firepower, including Trae Young and Anthony Davis, the latter of whom has had a couple of very impressive games to start the season. Dybantsa comes to Washington as the hope for the future, the top pick who will change the fortunes of a long-middling (or worse) franchise. Dybantsa was a standout at BYU, averaging 25.5 points a game, and followed that with an impressive Summer League. Dybantsa looked like a rookie still finding his footing in the preseason, averaging 12.8 points per game, shooting just 18.2% from 3-point range. But that's just the preseason. Starting Wednesday night, things get real.

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: James Harden #1 speaks with Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 26, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images CLEVELAND — It takes a certain level of confidence to proudly proclaim to a room full of Cleveland media members that you’ll unashamedly be rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. Then again, nothing about what Meleek Thomas does on and off the court lacks confidence. The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a frustrating start to their season. They’ve simultaneously shown how dangerous they can be by building large leads against the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, but have also demonstrated they’re far from a finished product by losing one of those games and nearly blowing the other. The Cavs found themselves on the back foot on Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves — arguably the hottest team in basketball. The Timberwolves were the aggressors in the first few minutes, and the Cavs couldn’t make enough shots to stem the tide. Instead of turning to a more veteran presence in Craig Porter Jr., head coach Kenny Atkinson went with Thomas midway through the opening frame for his first NBA minutes. The Pittsburgh native didn’t know that he was getting into the rotation beforehand, but he was prepared for the moment. And it was exactly what the Cavs needed. “We didn’t have energy, we’re flat, we’re playing the wrong way, we weren’t doing the right things. For him to be the spark in his first game of the year is not normal,” Donovan Mitchell said. “That speaks to his confidence, his concentration, attention to detail.” Thomas looked like an established veteran in his career debut. He didn’t hesitate when the ball swung to him on the perimeter. If there was an opening, he was going to take it without hesitation. He was decisive in his cuts to the basket both on and off the ball. This allowed him to put up 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, which included knocking down two big threes in the third quarter to help the Cavs retake the lead. “He was a big part of why we ended up getting this win,” Mitchell said. Both Thomas and Atkinson have talked about him needing to focus on the defensive end in the lead-up to the season. Whether or not he would get rotation minutes relied on that. This has caused Thomas to focus his energy on and off the court on getting better defensively any way that he can — even if that means reaching out to an established veteran like Mitchell. “He texts me all the time saying, ‘All right, what about this clip?’” Mitchell said. “He says, ‘Why’d you rotate here? Why did I do this? Should I do this?’ This morning, he was working on shows. Like, what rookies are working on shows?” This desire to improve has led to Mitchell taking Thomas under his wing. “I think Donovan has taken a special liking to Meleek,” Atkinson said before the season. “He almost feels like, ‘I have to build that relationship, build that trust,’ and then coach them up. “Player development coaches get way too much credit. It’s having really good, smart vets that elevate guys. We do our little part, and I think we try to put them in the right places. It’s really the coaching from your best players that elevates younger players.” There are some parallels between Mitchell and Thomas’s games — particularly early in Mitchell’s career. Both are score-first two guards, who weren’t expected to make a huge impact on their teams as rookies. Mitchell wasn’t a fixture in the starting lineup at the start of his career with the Utah Jazz, but proved early on that he was destined to be a star. We don’t know what the future holds for Thomas. What we can say now is that Mitchell seems invested in Thomas’s growth. And that means something to the rookie. “For them to take me under their wing and give me all of the game and just constantly help me, constantly stay in my ear, it just goes to show that they see the potential that I see in myself,” Thomas said. “It means the world to me.” From the outside, a rookie second-round pick coming in and making an immediate impact in their career debut would’ve been surprising. Yet, no one on the Cavs was, especially not Thomas. He carries himself like someone who’s been there before and expects to be a mainstay on this stage. “Confidence really don’t come from nobody else,” Thomas said. “It’s either you got it, or you don’t. You got heart, you got dog in you, or you don’t. And I got everything that I need. It’s just a matter of time before it’s shown.”

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: James Harden #1 speaks with Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 26, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images CLEVELAND — It takes a certain level of confidence to proudly proclaim to a room full of Cleveland media members that you’ll unashamedly be rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. Then again, nothing about what Meleek Thomas does on and off the court lacks confidence. The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a frustrating start to their season. They’ve simultaneously shown how dangerous they can be by building large leads against the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, but have also demonstrated they’re far from a finished product by losing one of those games and nearly blowing the other. The Cavs found themselves on the back foot on Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves — arguably the hottest team in basketball. The Timberwolves were the aggressors in the first few minutes, and the Cavs couldn’t make enough shots to stem the tide. Instead of turning to a more veteran presence in Craig Porter Jr., head coach Kenny Atkinson went with Thomas midway through the opening frame for his first NBA minutes. The Pittsburgh native didn’t know that he was getting into the rotation beforehand, but he was prepared for the moment. And it was exactly what the Cavs needed. “We didn’t have energy, we’re flat, we’re playing the wrong way, we weren’t doing the right things. For him to be the spark in his first game of the year is not normal,” Donovan Mitchell said. “That speaks to his confidence, his concentration, attention to detail.” Thomas looked like an established veteran in his career debut. He didn’t hesitate when the ball swung to him on the perimeter. If there was an opening, he was going to take it without hesitation. He was decisive in his cuts to the basket both on and off the ball. This allowed him to put up 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, which included knocking down two big threes in the third quarter to help the Cavs retake the lead. “He was a big part of why we ended up getting this win,” Mitchell said. Both Thomas and Atkinson have talked about him needing to focus on the defensive end in the lead-up to the season. Whether or not he would get rotation minutes relied on that. This has caused Thomas to focus his energy on and off the court on getting better defensively any way that he can — even if that means reaching out to an established veteran like Mitchell. “He texts me all the time saying, ‘All right, what about this clip?’” Mitchell said. “He says, ‘Why’d you rotate here? Why did I do this? Should I do this?’ This morning, he was working on shows. Like, what rookies are working on shows?” This desire to improve has led to Mitchell taking Thomas under his wing. “I think Donovan has taken a special liking to Meleek,” Atkinson said before the season. “He almost feels like, ‘I have to build that relationship, build that trust,’ and then coach them up. “Player development coaches get way too much credit. It’s having really good, smart vets that elevate guys. We do our little part, and I think we try to put them in the right places. It’s really the coaching from your best players that elevates younger players.” There are some parallels between Mitchell and Thomas’s games — particularly early in Mitchell’s career. Both are score-first two guards, who weren’t expected to make a huge impact on their teams as rookies. Mitchell wasn’t a fixture in the starting lineup at the start of his career with the Utah Jazz, but proved early on that he was destined to be a star. We don’t know what the future holds for Thomas. What we can say now is that Mitchell seems invested in Thomas’s growth. And that means something to the rookie. “For them to take me under their wing and give me all of the game and just constantly help me, constantly stay in my ear, it just goes to show that they see the potential that I see in myself,” Thomas said. “It means the world to me.” From the outside, a rookie second-round pick coming in and making an immediate impact in their career debut would’ve been surprising. Yet, no one on the Cavs was, especially not Thomas. He carries himself like someone who’s been there before and expects to be a mainstay on this stage. “Confidence really don’t come from nobody else,” Thomas said. “It’s either you got it, or you don’t. You got heart, you got dog in you, or you don’t. And I got everything that I need. It’s just a matter of time before it’s shown.”

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets drives against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t have asked for a worse way to lose their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. They were in complete control of the game in the first half, building a 29-point lead. Then they went away from everything that got them that lead in the second half, allowing the Sixers to come away with a 114-106 victory. The Cavs will try to get the bitter taste of that defeat out of their mouths as they host the Brooklyn Nets for their home opener on Saturday night. Brooklyn isn’t expected to compete for a playoff spot in a deep Eastern Conference. At the same time, they don’t have an incentive to tank, are led by a good coaching staff, and do have competent veterans in Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. Even if the Nets aren’t a great team, they do have the ability to steal games if you take them lightly. Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage! Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE. Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) vs. Brooklyn Nets (0-1) Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH When: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 PM TV: DAZN, NBA League Pass Point spread: Not yet set Cavs injury report: Nae’Qwan Tomlin – OUT (back), Khalifa Diop – OUT (left knee), Ernest Udeh Jr. – OUT (G League) Nets injury report: Tyler Bilodeau – OUT (shoulder) Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen Nets expected starting lineup: Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Demin, Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Day’Ron Sharpe Cavs jersey:White Association Edition uniform Previous matchup: The Cavs have won seven straight meetings dating back to November 2024. Cleveland won the last matchup 106-102 on March 1. Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats from last season via Cleaning the Glass. Offensive Rating Defensive Rating Net Rating Cavs 118.9 (8th) 115 (15th) +3.9 (9th) Nets 108.8 (30th) 119.6 (26th) – 10.7 (29th)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles while defended by Grant Nelson #16 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to rebound as they host the Brooklyn Nets for their home opener. Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

James Harden got a very Philly welcome in his first game of the 2026-27 NBA season. Philadelphia 76ers fans booed loudly at tipoff on Thursday, Oct. 22 when the 11-time All-Star started the game with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His teammate, Jarrett Allen, tipped the ball back to Harden and Harden dribbled the ball forward for the first possession of the game as the jeers rained down from the rafters at Xfinity Mobile Arena. pic.twitter.com/c0saxwnSV4— ART OF THE LEAGU3 (@highlightsofart) October 22, 2026 He was booed again when he took his place at the free throw line at the 9:19 mark after he was fouled by VJ Edgecombe. Harden missed the first free throw, but made the second to make the score 7-5 for the Cavaliers. At the end of the first quarter, Cleveland was up 35-18. Harden played for the 76ers for two seasons from 2021 to 2023. He had a public feud with former president of basketball operations Daryl Morey after the front office shut down his request to be traded. Harden joined the Cavaliers last year after a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers. This offseason, he signed a three-year, $97 million extension to stay in Cleveland. This is the 76ers' second game of the season. They beat the defending champion New York Knicks 106-100 in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Oct. 20. It was LeBron James' debut with Philadelphia. Thursday's game was another chapter in James' career against his hometown team, which he was drafted by and won the 2016 NBA Finals with. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Harden booed in return to Philadelphia with Cavaliers