<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-win-spurs-jarrett-allen-dominates');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jarrett Allen’s dominance without Evan Mobley elevates Cavs past Spurs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/arrett-Allens-dominance-without-Evan-Mobley-elevates-Cleveland-past-Spurs-.jpg"></figure><h1>Jarrett Allen’s dominance without Evan Mobley elevates Cavs past Spurs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-28T09:03:20-07:00">March 28th, 9:03am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-28T09:03:20-07:00">March 28th, 9:03am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t easy. But the Cleveland Cavaliers, shorthanded and tested, found a way. With Evan Mobley <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-rest-routine-before-playoffs-hits-evan-mobley-vs-spurs">watching Cleveland from the sidelines</a> and Tristan Thompson ejected, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-face-test-of-focus-not-fireworks-vs-victor-wembanyama-less-spurs">Cavs had every excuse to stumble</a> against a relentless San Antonio Spurs squad. Instead, they dug deep, leaned on their depth, and got a monster performance from Jarrett Allen to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705625/spurs-cavaliers" rel="noopener">secure a hard-fought</a> 124-116 home victory.</p><p>This was a game defined by swings. The Cavs built a comfortable 16-point lead early, only to see it evaporate in a chaotic third quarter littered with officiating stoppages and momentum-killing calls. Playing with nothing to lose, San Antonio fought its way to an 81-79 lead, forcing Cleveland to respond.</p><p>And they did, led by Allen, their gentlest giant.</p><h2><b>Jarrett Allen took over in the fourth quarter for the Cavs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jarrett-Allen-during-Cavs-Spurs.jpg"><figcaption>David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>For much of the first half, Allen was quiet. The 6-foot-9 center played 14 minutes, attempted just two shots, and seemed disengaged. His energy was low, his involvement minimal. But when the Cavs needed him most, he answered emphatically.</p><p>With Mobley in street clothes and Thompson ejected after a flagrant 2 foul, Allen became the sole rim protector and interior presence. And in the fourth quarter, he transformed into an unstoppable force. He punished the Spurs’ small-ball lineup, scoring 19 of his 29 points in the final frame, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.</p><p>“[The] number one key to our victory tonight was Jarrett Allen,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I don’t know how he does it energy-wise.”</p><p>Allen’s dominance was punctuated by a ferocious putback dunk off an offensive rebound, giving the Cavs a five-point lead with under five minutes remaining. He also grabbed 15 rebounds, securing his 38th double-double of the season.</p><p>His impact wasn’t just felt on the scoreboard. Allen’s defensive presence altered shots and forced San Antonio into tough looks late in the game. He outmuscled the Spurs’ undersized frontcourt and refused to let Cleveland be bullied inside.</p><h2><b>Cleveland’s depth helped determine victory</b></h2><p>Cleveland’s depth was tested, and it delivered. With the starters shouldering a heavy load, the Cavs’ reserves provided the necessary spark to keep the game from slipping away.</p><p>Sam Merrill played a pivotal role, finishing with 13 points, including three timely three-pointers that helped swing momentum back in Cleveland’s favor. De’Andre Hunter added 14, including seven in the first quarter, setting the tone early.</p><p>Javonte Green’s impact, though less obvious in the box score, was undeniable. He hit a clutch three-pointer late in the game and had a crucial tip-out for an offensive rebound, helping extend a key possession in the fourth quarter.</p><p>“He’s gotta be a pinch hitter. He’s gotta come in and get an extra possession, get us a rebound,” Atkinson said after the game. “He’s a winner. He knows what we need, he knows his role, and his athleticism is unique.”</p><p>Isaac Okoro also made the most of his minutes, finishing with nine points and four rebounds. His defensive intensity was crucial, yet in the deep Cavs rotation, tough choices had to be made.</p><p>“Isaac probably deserved to finish, but he didn’t,” Atkinson admitted. “These are really hard decisions, but I’m constantly talking to the team. You have to be selfless and you have to support your teammate and have a positive spirit.”</p><h2><b>Don’t forget about Cavs superstar Donovan Mitchell!</b></h2><p>Mitchell was the catalyst when the Cavs needed him most. He started the game in a facilitator role, ensuring his teammates got quality looks. But when the Spurs surged ahead in the third quarter, he flipped the switch.</p><p>Mitchell finished with 25 points, a career-high 14 assists, and eight rebounds, proving why he’s the Cavs’ go-to leader in crunch time.</p><p>When San Antonio briefly took control, Mitchell orchestrated Cleveland’s response. He drove into the lane, found Merrill cutting for an easy layup, then kicked out to the sharpshooter for a three on the next possession.</p><p>“It changed the game. Because we started out poorly,” Atkinson said of Mitchell’s facilitating. “[Mitchell’s] stint was not good, his first stint, and in that second stint he came in, they packed the paint, I mean, extreme paint packing, and he just started spraying the ball around. Once he got it out of their tight shell, then we started making decisions behind that, and that kind of broke the game out. So his understanding, his reading of the game is elite. It changed the game.”</p><p>Then, with the crowd desperate for a spark, Mitchell provided one. Charging into the paint, he elevated for an emphatic dunk, igniting Rocket Arena and shifting momentum squarely in Cleveland’s favor heading into the fourth quarter.</p><h2><b>Even with the win, Cleveland is focused on the bigger picture</b></h2><p>The Cavs showed resilience down the stretch, closing the game on a strong defensive stand. In the final four minutes, Cleveland held the Spurs to just seven points, clamping down when it mattered most.</p><p>But despite the win, the team knows they can’t afford to wait until the fourth quarter to play their best basketball.</p><p>“You got to be playing your best basketball going in the playoffs,” Max Strus said. “You don’t just want to wake up when it’s time to wake up.</p><p>“We need to start figuring out what it is that we need to do to play our best basketball and be our best selves going into April and May. … I think everybody in here knows that and got that message, and we’re gonna try our best to figure that out for these last nine games.”</p><p>With just nine games left in the regular season, Cleveland continues its pursuit of playoff readiness. They’ve proven they can win ugly, battle adversity, and rely on their depth. But as Strus and others have emphasized, they want to be more than just a tough team—they want to be a dominant one.</p><p>For now, they’ll take the win, learn from the lapses, and prepare for the next challenge. If nothing else, Thursday proved one thing: No Mobley, no problem—when Allen, Mitchell, and the Cavs’ bench step up, they can still find ways to win.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jarrett Allen’s dominance without Evan Mobley elevates Cavs past Spurs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-evan-mobley-dpoy-draymond-green');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ Evan Mobley, not Draymond Green, should be uncontested Defensive Player of the Year');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Evan-Mobley-not-Draymond-Green-should-be-uncontested-Defensive-Player-of-the-Year.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ Evan Mobley, not Draymond Green, should be uncontested Defensive Player of the Year</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-27T10:31:07-07:00">March 27th, 10:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-27T10:31:07-07:00">March 27th, 10:31am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Only four players in NBA history have won Defensive Player of the Year before turning 24. Cleveland Cavaliers Evan Mobley could become the fifth, joining elite company: Kawhi Leonard, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dwight Howard, and Alvin Robertson. But the narrative has suddenly shifted in a season where the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-rest-routine-before-playoffs-hits-evan-mobley-vs-spurs">Cavs superstar has dominated defensively</a> from start to finish.</p><p>Draymond Green, a player who has already earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, has surged into the conversation recently, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/warriors-news-draymond-green-surpasses-evan-mobley-as-dpoy-betting-favorite">inexplicably overtaking Mobley in the odds</a>. It’s a shift that doesn’t sit well in Cleveland, regardless of whether it’s in the locker room or the fanbase. Mobley <a href="https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/player/4866/onoff#tab-team_efficiency" rel="noopener">has been the backbone</a> of one of the NBA’s best defenses, anchoring the Cavs on a nightly basis. The numbers and his impact all point in the same direction: Mobley is the rightful Defensive Player of the Year. Anything else would be an injustice.</p><h2><b>The Cavs aren’t happy Draymond Green is stealing Evan Mobley’s spotlight</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Evan-Mobley-drives-on-Draymond-Green-Cavs-v-Warriors.jpg"><figcaption>David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>For most of the season, the Defensive Player of the Year race had a clear frontrunner: San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama. The sophomore phenom led multiple defensive leaderboards until a blood clot issue ended his season prematurely. With Wembanyama out, the award seemed destined for Mobley, until the narrative shifted.</p><p>Despite Mobley’s dominant season, Golden State’s Draymond Green has inexplicably surged up the odds, bumping Mobley from the top spot. The reason? It’s not defense—it’s storytelling. Green, a known media personality, has openly campaigned for the award. And in a league where perception sometimes outweighs reality, his push has gained traction, and some on the Cavs aren’t happy about it stealing Mobley’s spotlight.</p><p>“Evan is Defensive Player of the Year. Should be a no-brainer,” Darius Garland said. “You’ve seen it for however many games we are at right now. He’s definitely the best defender in the league by far. Switching onto guards and bigs.</p><p>“I don’t know how many blocks he’s averaging, but it’s up there. He’s definitely the wrong person to get switched onto and go ISO on because it won’t work. Contests. Steals. Blocks. Isolation defense. Defensive efficiency. On/off. There’s no 7-footer that is doing that right now in this league.”</p><p>Mobley’s defensive stats reinforce everything his teammates are saying. He ranks:</p><p>Yet, despite all of this, he’s fading in the DPOY race.</p><p>“It’s kind of embarrassing, actually,” Garland added. “He’s gotten robbed out of a couple awards already. I don’t want him to be robbed out of this one too. He’s deserving of it. He’s been doing it for three years now. He hasn’t gotten an award yet. I think it’s time the league gives him the recognition he deserves.”</p><h2><b>“He is the key for us defensively.”</b></h2><p>With Mobley on the floor, Cleveland boasts the eighth-best defensive rating in the league, allowing 112.5 points per 100 possessions. The Cavs’ defense is even more suffocating when Mobley and Jarrett Allen share the floor, dropping to a stifling 109.6 rating, which ranks in the 89th percentile among all two-man lineups.</p><p>But Mobley’s true value shines when he’s alone on the court. Even without Allen beside him, Cleveland still posts an elite 110.9 defensive rating (82nd percentile). Meanwhile, when Allen plays without Mobley, the team’s defense collapses, surrendering 114.4 points per 100 possessions (55th percentile).</p><p>Mobley has the best on/off defensive rating swing of anyone on the roster and ranks 10th among all forwards and bigs who have played at least 1,000 minutes. For comparison, Green ranks 29th and isn’t even the best defensive player on his team.</p><p>Still, Mobley’s impact can’t be quantified by numbers alone. It’s why veteran big man Tristan Thompson has given him a new nickname, “DPOY.”</p><p>“He is the key for us defensively,” said Thompson about Mobley’s defensive ability. ” [He’s] able to guard 1-5. Alters shots. Blocks shots. In the passing lanes. Rule of verticality. Switches onto guards. He is able to do so much at that end of the court. Like I’ve always said, he is a young Anthony Davis. Ev is a nightmare defensively.”</p><p>That nightmare was on full display in a recent win over Portland. Mobley racked up four blocks, bringing his season total to 97 (sixth-most in the NBA). When the Blazers tried to rally in the fourth quarter, Mobley single-handedly shut them down. For six straight minutes, Portland failed to score a field goal. That defensive stand secured Cleveland’s 58th win of the season.</p><p>“He’s so talented,” said Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson. “It’s overwhelming. You see it in a game like that, especially against a younger team. He really turned it up tonight. Another Defensive Player of the Year performance in my mind.”</p><h2><b>Evan Mobley is letting his game and the Cavs’ defense speak for themselves</b></h2><p>Mobley, for his part, isn’t letting the noise get to him.</p><p>“All the guys believe in me, and I believe in myself,” Mobley said. “I’m not going to change or do anything different. Just be myself. I feel like the numbers and the things that aren’t necessarily tracked, I feel like I play a big part in those things. Some guys won’t even take shots just because I’m down there.</p><p>“I’m going to keep going out there and playing the best defense I can, and hopefully I get the award.”</p><p>And he should.</p><p>Mobley has been the best defender in the league all season long. The numbers support it. The eye test confirms it. His teammates swear by it. If voters reward anything other than sustained defensive dominance, they will have, as Tristan Thompson put it, “(expletive) it up.”</p><p>Draymond Green has had his moment. It’s Evan Mobley’s time now.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ Evan Mobley, not Draymond Green, should be uncontested Defensive Player of the Year

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-rest-routine-before-playoffs-hits-evan-mobley-vs-spurs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ rest routine before playoffs hits Evan Mobley vs. Spurs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Clevelands-rest-routine-before-playoffs-hits-Evan-Mobley-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ rest routine before playoffs hits Evan Mobley vs. Spurs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-26T16:53:29-07:00">March 26th, 4:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-26T16:53:29-07:00">March 26th, 4:53pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers are grinding through one of their most exhausting stretches of the season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/darius-garlands-takeover-ended-donovan-mitchell-less-cavs-roadtrip-in-style">March has been merciless for Cleveland</a>—a month filled with constant travel, tough opponents, and little time to breathe. Even though their road trip is finally over, the schedule makers didn’t do the Cavs any favors, throwing one more curveball their way when hosting the San Antonio Spurs.</p><p>The Cavs are <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers" rel="noopener">staring down the barrel</a> of a back-to-back, with the second game being a quick trip to Detroit to take on the surging Pistons. Given the circumstances, it’s no surprise that Cleveland is resting at least one key player against San Antonio.</p><p>That player? Evan Mobley.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/warriors-news-draymond-green-surpasses-evan-mobley-as-dpoy-betting-favorite">Cavs will be without their defensive anchor when they host the Spurs</a>. Mobley, who played in every game of the recent road trip, will sit out, with the team looking to rest him. Resting Mobley with the playoffs in mind has always been a focus for Cleveland. However, Mobley’s absence is more than just a lineup adjustment. Instead, it’s a stark reminder of how crucial he is to everything the Cavs do, especially on the defensive end.</p><h2><b>Evan Mobley’s impact goes beyond the score and so much more</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Evan-Mobley-celebrates-basket-Cavs-game.jpg"><figcaption>Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Mobley’s impact goes beyond the box score. Sure, his season averages of 18.7 points and 9.4 rebounds are impressive, but the real story is on defense. He’s a human eraser, someone who can switch onto any position, block shots with ease, and make opponents second-guess their every move in the paint.</p><p>Cavs veteran Tristan Thompson, known for his knack for nicknames, has one for Mobley: “DPOY.”</p><p>That’s not just a catchy title. It’s a statement and a demand. Thompson has a message for those who vote on end-of-season awards, letting everyone know Mobley is this season’s best defensive player.</p><p>“Don’t (expletive) it up,” Thompson <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2025/03/should-be-a-no-brainer-cavs-send-strong-message-about-evan-mobleys-defensive-player-of-the-year-chances.html" rel="noopener">said to reporters</a>. “He is the key for us defensively. Able to guard 1-5. Alters shots. Blocks shots. In the passing lanes. Rule of verticality. Switches onto guards. He is able to do so much at that end of the court. Like I’ve always said, he is a young Anthony Davis. Ev is a nightmare defensively.”</p><p>Mobley’s dominance was on full display in Cleveland’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers. He tied his season-high with four blocks, bringing his total to 97—sixth-most in the league. When the Blazers tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, Mobley slammed the door shut, anchoring a defense that held Portland without a field goal for over six minutes. That defensive stand propelled Cleveland to its 58th win of the season.</p><p>“He’s so talented,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said of Mobley. “It’s overwhelming, and you see it in a game like that, especially against a younger team. He really turned it up tonight. Another Defensive Player of the Year performance in my mind.”</p><h2><b>The Cavs could also be without Ty Jerome against the Spurs</b></h2><p>While the Cavs will be without Evan Mobley against the Spurs, they might also be missing a key bench piece. Ty Jerome, who has provided valuable minutes as a floor-spacing guard and secondary playmaker, is officially listed as questionable with knee soreness. His status will likely be determined closer to tipoff, making him a game-time decision for Cleveland.</p><p>Jerome has given the Cavs an added offensive spark off the bench. His ability to knock down open shots and facilitate the offense allows the team to maintain rhythm when Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell rest. With Mobley already sidelined, Cleveland would prefer to have all available hands on deck, but Jerome’s availability remains up in the air.</p><p>If Jerome is unable to go, the Cavs will likely lean more on Sam Merrill and Isaac Okoro for additional backcourt minutes. Merrill, in particular, has thrived in a spot-up shooting role, while Okoro’s versatility allows him to take on more defensive responsibilities.</p><p>With a tough back-to-back looming, the Cavs will have to carefully manage their rotation. Whether or not Jerome suits up, Cleveland will need to dig deep against a Spurs team looking to play spoiler.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ rest routine before playoffs hits Evan Mobley vs. Spurs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/betting/warriors-news-draymond-green-surpasses-evan-mobley-as-dpoy-betting-favorite');   ga('set', 'title', 'Warriors’ Draymond Green surpasses Evan Mobley as DPOY betting favorite');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Warriors-news-Draymond-Green-surpasses-Evan-Mobley-as-DPOY-betting-favorite.jpg"></figure><h1>Warriors’ Draymond Green surpasses Evan Mobley as DPOY betting favorite</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-25T23:12:09-07:00">March 25th, 11:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-25T23:12:09-07:00">March 25th, 11:12pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The race for the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award is heating up, and it remains very much wide open with around 10 games remaining in each team’s regular season campaign. Many have been making their case, with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-trae-young-drops-firm-dpoy-take-on-dyson-daniels-after-milestone">Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels being the fan favorite</a> to take home the award against other worthy candidates such as Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green and Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley.</p><p>According to the latest odds on FanDuel, however, Daniels is not the favorite to bag the 2025 DPOY award. It is Green <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba?tab=awards" rel="noopener">who is favored</a> to take home the acclaim, as he is currently a -135 favorite on the aforementioned sportsbook. Mobley, who has been favored to win for most of the season, fell behind the Warriors forward in the latest odds update (+105), while the Hawks guard has now become a +1500 underdog for the award.</p><p>Rounding out the top five of betting favorites to win DPOY are Luguentz Dort (+3000) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (+3000), both of whom have been playing an instrumental role in propping up the defenses of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively.</p><p>Of course, being the betting favorite doesn’t mean that voters will view things the same way. Green may be playing a huge role in the Warriors’ better run as of late, but with there being no standout defender on the league’s most elite defenses, this could pave the way for the 35-year-old forward to win the second DPOY award of his career. At the moment, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/warriors-news-draymond-green-speaks-dpoy-chances-existence-latest-betting-odds">Warriors have a better defensive rating</a> than that of Mobley’s Cavs, which could be a key factor in how the voters decide.</p><p>With Victor Wembanyama being ineligible for awards after being unable to play in the minimum number of games, the DPOY race will be something to track until the end of the season, as things can still change from now until then.</p><h2><b>2025 DPOY race lacks precedent, could open up win for Warriors’ Draymond Green</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Draymond-and-strength-in-numbers.jpg"><figcaption>John Hefti-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>DPOY award voters are typically inclined to select the player they believe are most deserving of the trophy based on how their individual defense elevates the entire team’s performance on that end of the floor. Typically, this means that the winners of the award are on teams that boast a top-five defense in the NBA (according to defensive rating) at the minimum. Perhaps this year is when that trend stops, paving the way for Draymond Green to win the award.</p><p>At the moment, the Warriors and Cavs rank outside the top-five in defensive rating (seventh and eighth respectively). The last player to win a DPOY award while playing for a team without a top-five defense is Marcus Camby, who did so for a Denver Nuggets team that <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defense?Season=2006-07&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING" rel="noopener">ranked 12th</a> in defense back in 2007.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Warriors’ Draymond Green surpasses Evan Mobley as DPOY betting favorite

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-clippers/clippers-news-kawhi-leonard-stone-faced-james-harden-evan-mobley-goes-viral');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kawhi Leonard’s stone-faced reaction to James Harden cooking Evan Mobley goes viral');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kawhi-Leonards-stone-faced-reaction-to-James-Harden-cooking-Evan-Mobley-goes-viral.jpg"></figure><h1>Kawhi Leonard’s stone-faced reaction to James Harden cooking Evan Mobley goes viral</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-19T09:28:46-07:00">March 19th, 9:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-19T09:28:46-07:00">March 19th, 9:28am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Clippers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers got a big win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at home, losing 132-119. Though he didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/clippers-news-james-harden-still-isnt-tired-after-dropping-50-points-on-pistons">James Harden was a big reason</a> for their win, finishing with 22 points and nine assists, but he also may have had the <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1902360428115632390" rel="noopener">highlight of the night</a>.</p><p>Late in the third quarter, James got Evan Mobley switched onto him. Though Mobley may be the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, switching on somebody with moves like Harden can be dangerous. Mobley took the challenge, and Harden began to break him down with an array of moves. Harden then blew past him for the layup, which got him and the bench jumping up in amazement. Well, most of the bench.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">James Harden turned Evan Mobley into a training cone 😲<a href="https://t.co/grVAkRTG4Y">pic.twitter.com/grVAkRTG4Y</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1902216822986043877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>As you look at all the shocked faces on the bench, you then see Leonard’s face, and there’s no excitement. That’s pretty much on brand for Leonard, who doesn’t show emotion very much when something exciting happens.</p><h2><b>Kawhi Leonard finding a groove at the right time for Clippers</b></h2><p>Leonard was the leading scorer in the game, finishing with 33 points and shooting 12-for-19 from the field.</p><p>Just last week, Leonard had all the excitement in the world after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/clippers-news-kawhi-leonard-james-hardens-hyped-reactions-to-game-winner-vs-kings">hitting the game-winning shot</a> against the Sacramento Kings. Since it wasn’t a big shot of that magnitude, Leonard probably saw it as another nice play for Harden.</p><p>The Clippers are starting to roll with not many games left in the regular season, and the most important part is making sure that Leonard is healthy and ready to go. Over the past few years, the postseason hasn’t been kind to Leonard, and he’s suffered injuries around the same time. This season, Leonard has one goal.</p><p>“My goal is to be healthy at the end of the season so I can have a good summer and not worry about doing a whole rehab process again and missing training camp,” Leonard said after their win against the Kings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Evan Mobley

Latest Evan Mobley News

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Kawhi Leonard’s stone-faced reaction to James Harden cooking Evan Mobley goes viral

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