Evan Mobley’s Clutch Three Lifts Cavaliers Over 76ers

Evan Mobley gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a two-point lead over the Philadelphia 76ers with a cltuch three-point shot.

Mar 29, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) drives to the basket between Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) and center Mo Bamba (5) during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers were down one point to the Philadelphia 76ers with 30 seconds to play and they needed someone to step up and make a big-time shot. The Wine and Gold ended up with a clutch three but it wasn’t from Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, or Max Stus.

Sure enough, it was Evan Mobley who hit the game-winning corner three.

“That’s what we drew up,” J.B. Bickerstaff said as he cracked a smile after the game. “Evan, we’ve talked about it, he’s just not scared. He’s been working his tail off on his threes. He had an opportunity and had the courage to knock it down.”

Mobley is just a 25% career-three-point shooter.  But as Bickerstaff mentioned in his postgame presser, he has been working hard on improving that long-range shot all season long and it’s finally paying off.

Since returning from his knee injury on January 31, Mobley is attempting 1.6 threes a game and connecting on 42% of them. 

Mar 29, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) shoots a three-point basket during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

This is exactly what fans have been wanting to see from Mobley for the last two seasons. There’s no reason that he needs to make five threes a game on 40% shooting. But just being able to have that shot in his arsenal to help floor spacing and for moments like this makes him more of an offensive threat which is exactly what we saw in the closing minute against the Philadelphia.

The 76ers chose to let Mobley slip into the corner unguarded to stop a Darius Garland drive. DG noticed that, kicked it to Mobley, and the big man made Philadelphia pay for it which ended up giving the Cavs a victory.