After a triple-double against the Jazz, then 32 points in San Antonio, what was Darius Garland going to invent against Oklahoma City to continue to surprise? The Cavaliers playmaker made a very thick copy with 27 points (11/20 to shoot), 18 assists and 5 rebounds.
His 18 offerings (for just two stray balls) are the season record, tied with Chris Paul, the league’s leading passer, and also his career-best mark.
“He took control of the match in all areas”, admiring remark JB Bickerstaff for the Plain Dealer. “We see that he had the will not to lose this match. It’s part of his progress, as well as that of the team. We see that everyone is making enormous progress. Darius now believes he is among the league’s elite in his position. »
Difficult to prove him wrong in recent days since Garland has effectively overthrown the Thunder, who had dominated the first period and the first minutes of the second by taking an 18-point lead. In the third quarter, the Cleveland player accelerated and compiled 14 points and 8 assists!
20 points and 10 assists average in January
Finally, in the “money time”, as the icing on the cake of his great performance, he delivers two very important assists which allow the Bickerstaff players to conclude. The first for an alley-oop from Evan Mobley, the second for a 3-point shot from Lauri Markkanen.
“It was a very long road trip”, says Mobley as Cleveland come out of six straight away games. “And Garland continues to make big numbers night after night. He assumes his role to lead us to victory. »
Since returning to competition in early January, Garland is averaging 20.5 points and 10.1 assists and the Cavaliers are on four straight wins. Match after match, the leader, who will turn 22 in a few days (January 26), is getting closer and closer to the All-Star Game.
| Darius Garland | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | CLE | 59 | 31 | 40.1 | 35.5 | 87.5 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 12.3 |
| 2020-21 | CLE | 54 | 33 | 45.1 | 39.5 | 84.8 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 17.4 |
| 2021-22 | CLE | 37 | 34 | 46.4 | 37.6 | 91.5 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 7.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 19.5 |
| Total | 150 | 33 | 43.8 | 37.4 | 87.6 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 15.9 | |
