Observations: Cavs Victory Over Hawks

The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to seven games with a victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered their matchup against the Atlanta Hawks with a season-high six-game winning streak. This stretch has been fueled by strong defense and efficient offense which was on display on Saturday night. 

Here are some key observations from the Cavaliers 116-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Cavs Force Early Turnovers

The Cavs offense got off to a hot start as they scored the first eight points of the game. However, the defense that J.B. Bickerstaff stressed would be so important was on visible.

Cleveland forced six Hawk turnovers in the first quarter which led to seven Cavalier points off the miscues. 

Jan 20, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) controls a rebound in from of Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports / © Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland's Bench Shines (Again)

Cleveland's bench has been a key part of their recent winning streak and they played a critical role in this victory. Even with Caris LeVert ruled out, the Cavs outscored the Hawks' reserves 42-30.

Sam Merrill led the way off the bench with 18 points, Georges Niang scored 14, Tristan Thompson had six, and Craig Porter Jr. scored four. 

Hawks Size Problem For Cavs

Between Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, Jalen Johnson, and Saddiq Bey, the Hawks have a lot of size with some long wings. This size clearly affected the Cavs' presence in the paint.

Jarrett Allen still scored 14 points and grabbed rebounds 11 as he extended his double-double streak to 11 games. But Cleveland as a team barely outrebounded the Hawks 49-45. This size matchup is something they haven't come across a lot this season. 

Even Distributed Scoring

It's always fun when a team wins by 20+ points. It's even better when everyone gets involved in that double-digit win. Almost everyone who touched the floor for the Cavaliers recorded a bucket. Seven of those players scored 10 or more points. 

The Cavs' current streak has been a team effort and that was made apparent with their win against the Hawks.