The Cleveland Cavaliers are hosting the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of their homestand! I'll be live updating this page throughout the game.
Join the conversation with your thoughts on the evening below in the comment section.
The Cavs will be without Jarrett Allen (fractured left ring finger) and Sam Merrill (right hip contusion) in addition to Darius Garland and Max Strus.
Starters:
Hawks - Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Risacher, Johnson, Porzingis
Cavs - Mitchell, Tyson, Hunter, Nance, Mobley
FIRST QUARTER
Well, 7-0 run in the first 80 seconds. Cavs with two stops, a De’Andre Hunter transition dunk, an Evan Mobley easy finish, and a Donovan Mitchell left-wing trey ball.
Hunter's got three steals in the first quarter. Mobley has two and Larry Nance Jr. has one. Cleveland forced a lot of turnovers early.
The Hawks settled in and got some offense going through Jalen Johnson. It makes sense because they're getting used to who's handling and guiding things with no Trae Young.
Cleveland has 17 points off seven Atlanta miscues and there's still over three minutes to go in the first quarter.
Lonzo Ball has a pair of triples and a 9-1-1 baseline mid-ranger for eight quick ones in five minutes.
Cavs forced 19 points off nine Hawks turnovers in the opening frame. That'll do it.
END 1Q: Cavs 31, Hawks 22
ATL: Johnson 7p, 5r, 2a. Alexander-Walker 4p. Risacher 4p.
CLE: Mitchell 11p, 2a. Hunter 5p, 3stl, 2r, 2a. Ball 8p, 1r, stl. Mobley 4p, 2stl, 1a.
SECOND QUARTER
This five-man grouping of Proctor-Mitchell-Tyson-Bryant-Mobley is making its first appearance this season.
Nice block by Thomas Bryant on Vit Krejci, who tried a poster dunk. Cleveland didn't get the board though, so the Hawks wound up getting a bucket afterward.
Jaylon Tyson's finishing is getting better and better with each night, as is the confidence in letting it fly from those corners. Reps MATTER.
Lonzo's shooting the ball much ore than I thought he would be. I suppose when Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley aren't on the floor, that's gonna happen, but even so, he's taken a lot of threes this season so far.
The non-Don-Ev minutes were less than stellar, but not to the point where Cleveland allowed Atlanta to go on top. Hawks have outscored the wine and gold 19-12 and we're at the 4:45 mark.
Atlanta tied the game on a Johnson dunk down the lane. Nice feed from Luke Kennard there. Jalen has a very, very bright future (and present) in the NBA. Hops are crazy, knack for the boards. He'll be playmaking for the Hawks with Young out. Can shoot and slash. All around player.
The last couple of contests, Donovan Mitchell's not getting downhill the way we're used to seeing him get downhill. The Cavs-Pistons game was a week ago but it feels like forever.
You need to be winning a game you're winning the turnover battle (13-5) by eight in. Atlanta has outrebounded the Cavs 30-19 though... Cleveland is in some kinda rut right now. Get Sam Merrill back stat!
HALF: Hawks 52, Cavs 50
ATL: Johnson 11p, 10r, 4a. Porzingis 9p, 9r, 2a. Risacher 6p, 3a, 2r, stl. Kennard 9p, 1r, 1a, stl.
CLE: Mitchell 13p, 3a, blk. Hunter 7p, 5r, 3a, 3stl. Wade 8p, 4r, 1a. Ball 8p, 1r, stl. Mobley 6p, 4r, 2stl, 1a.
THIRD QUARTER
Cavs opened with a 5-0 run, a nice Mobley over-the-head pass to Mitchell in the left corner for three included. Hawks answered right back though. More Jalen Johnson for Atlanta.
Not many perimeter shots have gone down for Larry Nance Jr. since the starting road trip. He has been frigid from long range. Other than that, he's made an impact on the glass, defending, and playmaking.
Donovan Mitchell just went to the tunnel after he got subbed out. Good news, he's back on the bench.
Cavs turning it over a bunch in this quarter, but defending well. A lot of guys thinking that teammates are going to cut, but they stay spotted, or vice versa. Just miscommunication and bad timing.
Wade's got 11 points and four boards. He's taken five threes and made two of 'em.
I'm typically good with drive-and-kick, but 44 three-point attempts in three quarters is wild when you're shooting sub-30%.
END 3Q: Cavs 78, Hawks 76
ATL: Johnson 16p, 11r, 4a. Porzingis 11p, 9r, 2a, blk. Kennard 12p, 2r, 1a, stl. Daniels 9p, 3a, 2r, 2stl, blk.
CLE: Mitchell 28p, 4a, blk. Wade 11p, 5r, 1a. Hunter 11p, 6r, 4stl, 3a.
FOURTH QUARTER
Tyson's playing with so much heart but the foul calls are hurting. He just had to sub out with his fifth called for Wade to come in two minutes in.
Craig Porter Jr.'s been the man in this second half. Always making a winning impact. Beautiful diagonal drive and up-and-under reverse lay there.
CP's a winner. Straight up. Just so many critical momentum-swingers every single night. Dude's got seven boards for the second-most on the team. Cavs up 93-88 with 6:18 left in regulation.
Tonight's game has been target practice for Mitchell. He's 8 of 15 from deep with 34 points overall on the night. Not my favorite version of Don, and he still seems physically off, but he's making it work in this one.
Mobley is not playing with the same comfortability as he was last season, which is to be expected. There's a lot hanging on his shoulders after such a brilliant fourth year. But it has not been enough to this point. The good thing is it is Nov. 2.
Lonzo closing this game out instead of Nance.
Mitchell pumps his fist after Tyson nails his fourth triple of the game to put Cleveland up 103-96 with 3:43 left. It's been a solid, solid week-long stretch for the second-year swingman.
Much, much better on the gang rebounding in the second half. It's evened up on the boards.
You need two hands to count the amount of dumb frustration fouls Cleveland has committed tonight.
Cavs are snapping their two-game skid with a victory over the Hawks. They had 33 points off 23 Atlanta turnovers. And by the way, Cleveland shot 23 more times than them.
FINAL: Cavs 117, Hawks 109.