CLEVELAND, Ohio — It was quite a head-coaching debut for Greg Buckner.
Filling in for J.B. Bickerstaff, who wasn’t on the bench because of personal reasons, Buckner guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 121-105 win, avenging this weekend’s stinging loss to the Chicago Bulls, taking the season series between the two teams jockeying for Eastern Conference Play-In position, snapping a three-game losing streak and giving Buckner his first official win.
Buckner, a basketball lifer and former player who Bickerstaff brought to the organization this past offseason, said he wasn’t nervous before the game. He didn’t approach Wednesday as an audition. It’s Bickerstaff’s team. Buckner said as much. Described as laid back, he also wasn’t trying to add any more pressure to a game the Cavs desperately wanted, especially coming off their no-show in Detroit two nights earlier that led to maturity questions. The stakes were high enough.
This time, the Cavs answered the challenge, with their best start in years, outscoring the Bulls 34-12 in the first quarter. The 22-point lead was the biggest first-quarter advantage since Jan. 12, 2018. The 12 points were the lowest any opponent has scored in the first quarter this season. The Cavs led by as much as 33 points in a game they never trailed.
It was better than Buckner could have imagined. Exactly what the Cavs needed.
“Lucky for me, we played Chicago a couple games ago and it left a nasty taste in their mouths,” Buckner said after the win. “They all came in and said, ‘We got you today coach, we’re not going to allow them to come on our court and take care of business.’ And that’s what they did, especially defensively in that first quarter. It may have been the best defense we played all year for an entire quarter. For the most part they did what we asked and executed the game plan.”
Collin Sexton led the way on offense, scoring 10 of his game-high 30 points in the first quarter. Sexton added seven assists and three rebounds. He has scored at least 20 points in 11 straight games, the longest single-season streak of his career.
Darius Garland, Sexton’s budding backcourt mate, chipped in with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 4-of-4 from 3-point range. With his last triple — a gorgeous high-arching rainbow that forced Chicago head coach Billy Donovan to call timeout and empty his bench — Garland became the fastest in franchise history to make 200 3s.
“My coaches, they’ve been on me a lot. Teammates telling me to shoot the ball when I’m open. And then just trusting my work,” Garland said. “I put in the work every day. It’s just a matter of me shooting the ball when I’m open. Having that confidence in myself that I can do it and make these shots.”
Kevin Love reached double figures in scoring once again, tallying 15 points to go with nine rebounds and four assists. Larry Nance Jr. and Isaiah Hartenstein also finished in double-digits with 10 apiece.
The Cavs hit their highest point total in nearly two weeks. They made 16 3s. Shot 51.1% from the field. It was payback after Chicago stole a win from them Saturday night.
“I can’t take credit and say I’m the greatest coach in the history of basketball because they played well tonight,” Buckner said. “It was fun. I mean, you get in this business to be a head coach, you don’t get in this business to be an assistant coach. And if you are, you’re probably in the wrong business because you’re not a competitor. So to get an opportunity to coach these guys and to get an opportunity to get a win, it was a blast to be honest with you.”
Buckner saluted Donovan as the final seconds ticked away. Then he shared a big hug from Garland before receiving congratulatory handshakes from each member of the coaching staff. Earlier in the day, he received a lighthearted message from Bickerstaff that said not to get too comfortable because that’s his seat and Bickerstaff is coming to reclaim it on Friday.
For one night, it belonged to Buckner. And the players did their part to make it memorable.
“I got the game ball. I got an ice bath and everything else. I got a new set of clothes. I mean, it’s cool and all, but we got bigger fish to fry,” Buckner said. “Coach will be back and then we’ll want to see if we can build on this win. See if we can get on a roll.”
Another setback
Young swingman Dylan Windler is sidelined once again, this time because of surgery on his left knee to address ongoing patella tendinopathy concerns. The Cavs said in a release that Windler will be sidelined indefinitely. Sources tell cleveland.com Windler will not play for the remainder of the season and he’s not expected to participate in summer league.
Up next
The Cavs will head on a three-game road trip that begins in Charlotte on Friday night. Tip off is set for 8 p.m.
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New Cavs face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Cavaliers-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NBA proceeds donated to charity.
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