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'We've been there before': Cavs react to another scuffle with Grizzlies on national TV
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- 'We've been there before': Cavs react to another scuffle with Grizzlies on national TV
CLEVELAND — Don't blink when the Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies clash on national TV at Rocket Arena .
You might miss a great game or even an altercation .
A track record of intense, physical competition between the teams has been established, and things escalated again Sunday night during the third quarter of Cleveland's 129-123 win .
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"We've been there before against that exact team," Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell said.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) goes for a loose ball as forward Isaac Okoro (35) looks on Feb. 23, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
A split second after Mitchell stumbled and fell while dribbling, he grabbed the ball as Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane scrambled for it near the Cleveland bench. Mitchell, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson or both of them were credited with calling timeout, and the nearest official signaled accordingly with 7:28 remaining in the third quarter.
But Bane continued to try to rip the ball away from Mitchell.
"Just two competitive guys wrestling for a ball," Bane said. "I didn't think it was anything more than that."
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With ESPN's cameras in the arena for the second consecutive game, a national TV audience got to witness the drama.
"The ball's on the floor," Mitchell said. "I'm not letting it go. He's not letting it go. So it is what it is. It's nothing crazy."
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) fight for the ball during the second half Feb. 23, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
As the two players tussled, Mitchell ended up atop Bane and rose to his feet. With Atkinson and Grizzlies center Zach Edey attempting to peel Mitchell off Bane, Memphis guard Ja Morant pushed Mitchell.
"I did see Ja join the fray," Atkinson said. "I wish it would have just been left Don and Desmond. You know, leave it at that. When you start getting guys coming in and pushing, that was my observation. I did not love that."
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"You just try to go make sure everybody's good and protected. That's all it was," Morant said. "We were just pushing people out of each other's way."
After Morant's push, Mitchell held his hands in the air as if he wanted to avoid a full-scale fight. Mitchell said he couldn't remember much because "I kind of black out in those moments." He had enough awareness, though, to prevent himself from being tossed out of the game.
"I think I knew for myself, it's just I can't [get ejected]," Mitchell said. "I'm too valuable to get thrown out in that regard."
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) is fouled by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) on Feb. 23, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Meanwhile, Bane continued to go after Mitchell near Cleveland's bench. Players from both teams stepped between Mitchell and Bane. Cavs center Tristan Thompson began to push Edey before the groups separated.
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Edey said he didn't appreciate the Cavs getting physical with Bane.
"I'm always going to stand up for my guys," he added.
Cavs backup guard Ty Jerome , a friend of Mitchell since they were 8-year-old AAU teammates in New York, offered a more lighthearted take on the dustup.
"It was nothing serious," Jerome said. "Neither wanted to give up the ball. Just childish behavior."
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) celebrates after making a 3-pointer against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 23, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson says Cavaliers received 'a boost' from their dustup with Grizzlies
The Cavs (47-10) can laugh because they have the best record in the NBA this season, and they proved they wouldn't allow a skirmish with the Grizzlies (37-20) to rattle them. It's the type of moment Cleveland will likely encounter again when the playoffs begin in April and a tougher brand of basketball emerges with fewer fouls called.
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"When [a scuffle] happens, the game can go one of two ways," Jerome said. "One team's going to come out with a lot of energy."
The Cavs found a spark.
"We got a boost out of that," Atkinson said. "Like, I could feel us raise our intensity without being too emotional about it."
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 23, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
After a replay review resulted in Mitchell, Bane, Morant and Thompson receiving offsetting technical fouls, center Jarrett Allen threw an inbounds pass to All-Star forward Evan Mobley , and small forward Max Strus drained a 3-pointer from the right wing on an assist from Mobley, giving the Cavs a 77-71 advantage with 7:23 left in the third quarter. They never lost the lead.
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"Max coming out of that timeout and making a tough 3 is a very underrated play in that game 'cause it kind of comes out and sets the tone for how we're going to respond out of the scuffle," Jerome said. "So that's a huge play."
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With Darius Garland (left hip contusion) missing Sunday's game (Atkinson said he expects the All-Star point guard to return "very, very soon" ), Mitchell took an aggressive approach from the beginning. He scored 22 of his game-high 33 points in the first half.
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Jerome had a career-high 15 fourth-quarter points and finished with 26 off the bench. Mobley flirted with a triple-double, compiling 25 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Allen played with equipment on the sprained right finger he suffered Friday in a 142-105 win over the New York Knicks , but he still managed to post 13 points and 10 rebounds. Wing De'Andre Hunter tallied 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench. And Strus produced 11 points and eight rebounds.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7) on Feb. 23, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Cavs outrebounded the Grizzlies 57-37, including 22-12 on the offensive end of the floor. Cleveland established a season best with its offensive rebounding total.
Atkinson's men were ready rumble on the boards. And they could not have been completely shocked about the game getting heated in the third quarter, given their history with Memphis.
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Memories of Donovan Mitchell- Dillon Brooks fight in 2023 at forefront after Cavs, Grizzlies scuffle featuring Desmond Bane
Mitchell had not been involved in an altercation like the one Sunday since another Cavs-Grizzlies battle on Feb. 2, 2023, in Cleveland. It happened when former Memphis player Dillon Brooks hit Mitchell below the belt. Mitchell responded by whipping the ball at Brooks. They then engaged in a shoving match, and members of both teams jumped into the mix.
Mitchell and Brooks were ejected from the game televised nationally by TNT. The incident occurred in the third quarter, and the Cavs won 128-113.
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"The games are always close, hard-fought and that usually brings out emotion," Bane said.
It sure does.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs respond well to another scuffle with Grizzlies on national TV
