CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cavaliers pushed Laurie Markkanen a little further to advance on the offensive Saturday night.
In the first half against the Washington Wizards, Markkanen had just six points on 2-of-9 shooting. But in the second half, he lit up from across the arc, sinking four of his six attempts from deep in the last 24 minutes. He finished with the team's high 23 points as the Cavs won 92–86.
For the game, Markkanan shot 6-of-18 from the ground; All his shots were 3-pointers. When the Cavs beat the Wizards 26-16 in the deciding fourth quarter, they had nine points.
In his second game after a month-long absence due to an ankle sprain, Markkanen will be the first to admit that Saturday was not perfect, but he found his rhythm at the right time.
"I still only made my 3s," he said. "It's a work in progress. I feel like I'm still running a little bit, getting back to that game pace. I did some drills before the Detroit game and this is my second game. I don't give any excuses." want to make but I notice myself in a hurry to finish something and just get back in time. Obviously the more time I get on the floor, the easier it gets. I'm just trying to figure it out And glad I was finally able to make a pair."
It's only natural that Markkanan is taking some time to find a normal offensive rhythm, considering how much time he missed.
Against Oklahoma City on January 22, Markkanen landed awkwardly and missed the next 11 games with an ankle sprain. He put in weeks of rehab — including several hours per day during last week's All-Star break — to make his return for the start of the second half of the season, scoring 22 points against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday when sporting action resumed. .
His timeline alone was impressive given that high ankle sprains usually take longer to heal. But it's also important to note that this isn't Markkanen's only extended absence this year as he had to adjust to a new team after being traded to Cleveland this summer. The forward also missed nine games in November after the NBA fell into health and safety protocols.
"I think people have forgotten or underestimated Laurie's ability and what she is capable of." Coach JB Bickerstaff said. “This year was a tough year for us battling COVID and injuries and those things. But he is one hell of an offensive weapon. So we have to find as many ways as possible to keep using her and keep contributing the way she wants to tonight."
Markkanen couldn't have chosen a better time to return to the lineup for the Cavs, who had dropped three games in a row before Saturday and currently have Darius Garland (low back pain), Caris Levert (sprain right) as their top-scoring guard. are without. leg) and Rajon Rondo (sprained right leg) - this is to say nothing of Colin Sexton, who is out for most of the year due to a knee injury.
On Saturday, Markkanan did what he does best and looked to his ability at 3 to keep the floor off offense.
But it also helped that his fellow elders became aggressive at the right time.
Jarrett Allen finished with an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double, while rookie Evan Mobley had a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.
In the decisive fourth quarter, Markkanen found Allen for a dunk that gave the Cavs an 85–84 lead with 3:10 to play in the game, perfectly highlighting the awareness that the Cavs' big guys had this year. Played his unconventional long ball. The lineup with Markkanen, Mobley and Allen all in the game.
"It's huge, we're all looking out for each other," Allen said. “Elder people should take care of older people and we take pride in doing so. We know how to play each other, we know where each other is supposed to go. I hit Laurie on the lob in the first half, Laurie hit me in the fourth quarter. We just like to share the ball with each other and just try to figure it out. ,
All three embody the selfless style that the Cavs are playing with this season, and all three scoring in double digits on Saturday are the perfect example of what can happen when that mindset is adopted.
That selfless style will be even more important given the tight Eastern Conference race, given his absence currently on guard. Only four and a half games separate the top six teams, so every player on the roster will have to be ready to play a major game at any given time.
"We're all selfless and we're trying to play the right basketball, find the open man and try to do that as many times as we can throughout the game," Markken said. "I think everybody says it, but I think it's really true with this team, we don't care who scores the basketball or anything like that, we're trying to win the game, No matter what. We're going to find the open man and it's going to be a different man every night."