Despite being short 12 players and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Memphis Grizzlies gave the Cleveland Cavaliers their all. At halftime, Memphis led 51-48, and it appeared that the Cavs were about to hit a new low in an already turbulent season.
But, happily for the Cavs, there was still a second half of play to even the score and demonstrate that they were the superior team. Cleveland dominated Memphis in the third quarter, outscoring them 30-16.
“I think we were playing a little uptight, trying to make sure that every single thing was perfect, and I think that’s when we’re not at our best,” Jarrett Allen, the big guy on the team, said. “So J.B. was just like, ‘Go out there, have fun, and play our brand of basketball.'”
The third-quarter scoring onslaught led to the Cavs firmly having momentum in their corner entering the final frame, guiding Cleveland to a dramatic turnaround win. Despite a lot of bad in the first half, it played a part in the second-half turnaround and, more importantly, helped the Cavs re-find some of their swagger with the playoffs looming.
