On withstanding Cleveland's elite shot-makers and coming away with the victory:

"Down the stretch it did come down to shot making. They hit some big time shots. Now, mind you, we had a couple mishaps defensively that allowed them to get to that, but that's what Donovan does. That's what James does. Keon came and played big minutes for them. I thought he was really good. But I think Jaylen did a hell of a job defensively on Donovan throughout the game. I thought that was big for us in that situation. Being able to defend these guys is tough."

On Desmond Bane's performance and the big shot:

"Winner. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes, he's going to do. And that's about the best word that describes him because he embodies so much of it. Winner and leader."

On the significance of the win:

"It just talks about the resiliency of this team. And we said it before that there's going to be different ways to win games, and we keep finding those ways. Games are going to look different, but it's taking it one game at a time. And the goal today was take care of this game, take care of home. Our fans were absolutely fantastic. People on their feet cheering with the defense getting our guys going. The energy of this building is just incredible and so I think that's a big piece of what this game means to us."

On adjustments in the third quarter against one of the league's best third-quarter teams:

"Our guys did a great job talking at halftime in the locker room about some of the adjustments we can make. And I think it was just different matchups, taking guys off of certain guys to give Paulo a breather in a moment cuz he was guarding James and we're switching and there were a lot of things we did that would just kind of manipulated the game, but our guys did a great job of communicating that in huddles at halftime, knowing what was needed to be done to get this game."

On the significance of beating a playoff-caliber opponent in a playoff-like atmosphere:

"I'll keep repeating it. It is one game. There is some significance there, but the reality is like we said from the beginning, win take care of home, right? And win one game at a time. And so it means nothing if you come out tomorrow and you don't do a heck of a job against the Washington Wizards. Our guys know that this game was important because of the standings and whatnot, but the reality is we just got to keep winning one game at a time."

On the contributions from role players like Tristan da Silva and Wendell Carter Jr. during the 8-3 stretch:

"It's important that guys know when they step on the floor that they're going to be asked to do all those little things. Wendell has always just done the little things within the game and doesn't need any accolades to do it. The big time rebounds, screening, the passes that he made to Tristan for those big time threes—I think those are huge down the stretch because it became a shot making game down the stretch and we were able to combat what they were doing on the other end. Even Jet Howard coming in playing major minutes, Noah Penda playing good minutes re-defending Donovan—all those little small pieces matter and so again you win as a team you lose as a team and these guys are just putting it all together and it's by committee."

On the team's resilience during the win streak and stretch since the All-Star break:

"I think it's just it keeps going to the mindset that these guys have for one another, knowing that they believe in each other, that they're trusting each other. You have 29 assists and only six turnovers. So the ball was being shared. Our defense was turned up. Now again, they hit some big time shots, but I'm going to keep repeating it over and over again. It's one game at a time. That's it. You know, I worry about the streak. That's fine. But I think we just got to keep finding ways to win one game at a time down the stretch."

On Noah Penda guarding Donovan Mitchell as a rookie:

"Noah's a student of the game and so he does his homework. He's studying film. He's watching film with his coaches. They do a great job of keeping him prepared and you're not going to stop a guy like Donovan Mitchell. Like these guys, you have to just make it tough on him. You got to be physical as possible without fouling. Noah's tendencies, but I think Noah did a very good job there in those minutes that he was on him. He hit some big time shots, but again, this is what great players do. They hit the big time shots in the big moments."

On the team's high percentage of two-point shots and execution tonight:

"Yeah, I just really think that we have to keep taking what the defense gives you. A lot of teams are packing the paint in, not allowing us to get downhill. And so you got to be able to take those mid-ranges and knock them down. Having the confidence and having the trust in your shot and the execution to know exactly what shot you're getting. But again, teams are doing that to us, but you so you do have to take what the game gives you and not force it."

On Paolo Banchero's explosiveness, assertiveness, and decision-making:

"His mindset shift after All-Star break has been just aggressive, quick decisions, early easy baskets. I can't give the young man enough credit for his ability to just sit down and guard big-time players. James Harden is no easy match, and he wanted that challenge, and he took that challenge on. I think his ability to do that is what's most impressive right now for me. The offensive side of the ball—his ability to get downhill, attack the basket, find his teammates. Him having seven assists tonight, and could have been more if we knocked a couple more shots down, but he's finding the right play because he sees how teams are loading up to him and he's aggressive as heck getting downhill."

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