By R.L. Bynum
Ed Davis signed a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers late in training camp knowing that he wouldn’t play much and would be more of a mentor to young players.
But after playing a total of around seven minutes in the Cavaliers’ first 15 games, he started for the second game in as many nights because the starting center and his backup are both out.
Davis helped the Cavs (9–8) give the Golden State Warriors (13–2) a good game for three quarters in a 104–89 loss Thursday night with seven points and 14 rebounds. He was scoreless with one rebound on the season before he collected six points and 11 rebounds in Wednesday’s 109–99 loss at Brooklyn.
“I come in every day. I work hard. So, I’m ready for it,” Davis said of the starting assignments. “We have guys out with injury and illness and I’m just doing my part to bring whatever I can to the table to help the team get a win.”
Davis scored all seven of his points and pulled down 13 of his rebounds in the first half as Cleveland owned a 54–51 halftime lead. The Cavs took an 81–68 edge into the final quarter.
Stephen Curry wasn’t going to let Golden State lose, though. The Warriors got 12 consecutive stops and outscored Cleveland 36–8 in the final quarter when Curry scored half of his game-high 40 points.
Usual starting center Jarrett Allen missed his second consecutive game with an illness and his backup, Evan Mobley, is out for up to a month with a sprained right elbow. Cleveland was also without Collin Sexton (left knee meniscal tear), Lauri Markkanen (conditioning) and Cedi Osman (back spasms).
During one first-half huddle, his teammates were yelling that he should get 25 rebounds.
“It feels good whenever your teammates support you,” Davis said.
It was Davis’ best rebounding game since pulling down 14 for the Brooklyn Nets against Milwaukee on April 1, 2019. The seven points were his most since scoring eight for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season on Feb. 1 against Cleveland. The 11.6 game score was his best since putting up 12.1 for the Utah Jazz on Aug. 13, 2020, against Sacramento.
In his two seasons at Carolina, Davis collected more than 14 rebounds five times, including 16 in a Jan. 4, 2010, loss at College of Charleston and in a Feb. 7, 2010, loss at Maryland.
Davis, 32, a member of the 2009 UNC national championship team, started seven games last season for Minnesota while playing in only 23 of the Timberwolves’ 72 games. He averaged 13 minutes, 2.4 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Danny Green missed his second consecutive game, a 103–89 Philadelphia win at Denver, with hamstring tightness.
In the G League, Theo Pinson had 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Maine Celtics’ 86–79 home victory over the Capital City Go-Go, the Wizards’ affiliate.
Pinson lamented his professional basketball career path this week with an Instagram post.
Justin Jackson is on paternity leave and missed his second consecutive Texas Legends game.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 15 games, 19.9 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.3 3FG%, 86.7 FT%, 6.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists
Up next — 7:30 Friday at Brooklyn; 8 p.m. Saturday at Milwaukee
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 16 games, 20.4 points, 48.7 FG%, 42.5 3FG%, 86.6 FT%, 7.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Toronto; 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Utah
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 12 games, 3.1 points, 48.4 FG%, 4.5 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist
Up next — 9 p.m. Friday at Denver; 8 p.m. Sunday vs. New York
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 13 games, 6.6 points, 38.6 FG%, 32.2 3P%, 60.0 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Friday at Phoenix, ESPN; 3:30 Sunday at Los Angeles Clippers
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
104–89 loss vs. Golden State — Started; 28 minutes, 7 points, 3–3 FG, 1–2 FT, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, -2, 11.6 game score
Season statistics — 5 games, 2.6 points, 66.7 FG%, 50.0 FT%, 5.2 rebounds, 0.2 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Brooklyn, NBATV; 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Phoenix
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 8 games, 8.3 points, 36.5 FG%, 37.5 3FG%, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 7:30 Friday at Boston, ESPN; 6 p.m. Sunday at Detroit
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
103–89 win at Denver — Missed second consecutive game with hamstring tightness
Season statistics — 11 games, 7.5 points, 45.2 FG%, 41.8 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Saturday at Portland; 10 p.m. Monday at Sacramento, NBATV
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 14 games, 7.1 points, 35.7 FG%, 34.4 3FG%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Dallas, ESPN; 8 p.m. Sunday vs. Denver
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 16 games, 7.8 points, 46.9 FG%, 30.6 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Philadelphia; 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Denver, TNT
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Off Thursday
Season NBA statistics — 7 games, 2.4 points, 50.06 FG%, 33.3% 3P%, 2–4 FT, 2.3 rebounds
Season G League statistics — 1 game, 12 points, 4–12 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–3 FT, 13 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 4 blocks
Up next — 7:30 Friday vs. Orlando; 7 p.m. Monday at Cleveland, NBATV
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 2 games, 0 points, 0–4 FG, 2 rebounds
Up next — 9 p.m. Friday at Denver; 8 p.m. Sunday vs. New York
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In G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) forward
115–99 win at Memphis Hustle (Grizzlies affiliate) — Didn’t play; still on paternity leave
Season statistics — 4 games, 23.8 points, 55.9% FG, 52.6% 3FG, 62.5 FT%, 9.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Up next — 8:30 Friday, Nov. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 27 vs. Greensboro (Hornets affiliate)
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Theo Pinson, Maine Celtics guard
86–79 win vs. Capital City Go-Go (Wizards affiliate) — Started; 32 minutes, 12 points, 3–10 FG, 2–8 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, +23
Season statistics — 5 games, 17.6 points, 48.3 FG%, 41.9 3FG%, 91.7 FT%, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.4 steals
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Capital City Go-Go (Wizards affiliate); 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 at Westchester (Knicks affiliate)
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