Goodwin saves the day- Cavaliers flop past Pelicans

     In a game that was often painful to watch, the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied past the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 93-90 at Rocket City Field House in Cleveland.

Brandon Goodwin led Cleveland off the bench with 21 points on an evening with the offense hampered by the loss of Darius Garland due to back spasms that cost Garland some time in the Cavaliers' loss to Detroit the night before.

Jarrett Allen scored sixteen with Kevin Love tossing in fifteen to aid Goodwin in the win.

Cleveland improved to 31-20 with the win and will travel to Houston for a Wednesday meeting against the Rockets.

Swashbucklings

1) Darius Garland was a late scratch with back spasms after having this issue in mid-game against Detroit.

While things don't appear to be serious, I have to admit some long-term concerns as back injuries aren't easily overcome-especially with such a young player.

2) Games like these can be painful to watch but good teams manage to overcome these nights.

When you play a bad team like New Orleans at home, good teams get past last-minute injuries and bad shooting nights and still survive with a win.

It's a cliche but all wins count the same in the standings.

3) Brandon Goodwin was the only hot shooting hand in this one for the Cavaliers as the third-string point guard was the player on the court in crunch time as Goodwin's 21 points included three three-pointers on eight for eleven shooting.

One certainly can not count on that type of game happening all the time or even often but it's nice to see a G-League player have a night in the sun.

4) The Cavaliers were beaten on the boards by New Orleans and it brought to mind the loss of Lauri Markkanen ending the three big man lineup that had been so effective.

Perhaps the three big man lineup wasn't an innovation as much as it was a move of desperation for a team that needed everyone possible to hit the glass?

5) Lamar Stevens continues his transition into a solid role player as Stevens hit some key mid-range shots in the fourth quarter in finishing with eleven points on five for six shooting.

If Stevens can consistently make that shot, he can play a dozen years in this league.

6) Evan Mobley struggled in the win as the rookie finished with only four points and hit only one basket in seven shots.

Mobley may have been in less than top form as he played only twenty-three minutes and not many of them in the final period.