The Cleveland Cavaliers came out victorious against the Memphis Grizzlies with a 129-123 win, but the game was not without its moments of tension. In the third quarter, a heated altercation broke out between Donovan Mitchell and Desmond Bane, which saw pushing and shoving. Both players were issued technical fouls, but fortunately, things didn’t escalate beyond that, and the game continued.
The Cavaliers’ win improved their record to 47-10, maintaining their position as the best team in the NBA. Despite the drama, the team showed their resilience and commitment to playing their brand of basketball.
Kenny Atkinson Talks About the Scuffle
After the game, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson shared his thoughts on the scuffle. He was not pleased with the involvement of other players in the altercation. “Stay out of the way and let the two guys tussle,” he said bluntly. Atkinson’s point is clear: by stepping in, other players can often escalate the situation, making matters worse.
While the scuffle didn’t cause any lasting issues, Atkinson emphasized that the focus should be on keeping the game under control and not letting small altercations derail the flow of play.
Cleveland’s Continued Dominance
With the win, Cleveland remains the top team in the NBA, and they look poised to continue their dominance as they head into their next matchup. The Cavaliers will face the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, aiming to keep up their Finals aspirations.
As of now, Cleveland has shown very few weaknesses and seems to be a well-oiled machine. If they continue to follow Atkinson’s guidance and stick to their cohesive style of play, they will be a tough team to beat in a seven-game series.
For now, fans of the Cavaliers are enjoying not just the victories, but the added drama and entertainment. While Atkinson would prefer less of the on-court tension, he’s right in saying that it’s best for teammates to stay out of the way when conflicts arise.
