CLEVELAND _ The Cavaliers entered the fourth quarter in a 94-94 deadlock with the Atlanta Hawks and hoping for another fourth quarter surge.
That was when Darius Garland provided it, and he put on a show in the process, leading the Cavs _ who needed to survive a late comeback from the Hawks _ to a 121-118 win Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Cavs started the fourth quarter hot and jumped out to a 104-96 lead, a run capped with a dunk from Kevin Porter Jr. With just over seven minutes remaining, Garland took over. He dribbled toward the hoop, around one defender and then found his way under the hoop before breaking toward the free throw line. He then reversed course back toward the hoop on a dime, went around another defender and hit a double-clutched layup to put the Cavs up 106-96.
The next time down the floor, Garland created some space with a cross over and drilled a step-back 3-pointer for good measure, finishing a highlight-reel stretch that handed the Cavs with a comfortable lead until the final minute, when the Hawks came storming back.
With the Cavs leading 119-106, Cam Reddish hit a 10-foot jumper before Kevin Love turned the ball over, which led to Trae Young nailing a deep 3-pointer, cutting the Cavs' lead to 119-111 with just under two minutes left.
Kevin Heurter followed with a 3-pointer of his own, and Young, after a De'Andre Hunter free throw, with 49 seconds left added another 3-pointer to make it a 121-118 game.
The Cavs in the final minute committed a turnover and missed a 3-pointer. With two chances see their lead evaporated, the Cavs survived two 3-point attempts from Young, the first with 33.6 seconds left and the second as time expired, to pull out the win.
Garland finished with 21 points. Collin Sexton scored a team-high 25 points to go with six rebounds. Kevin Love totaled 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Cedi Osman contributed 18 points and three assists. Porter just missed a double-double, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds.
