NBA preseason began Friday. On Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers won in a really fun way, with a rookie hitting a game-winner. Via the News Herald:
It was the preseason opener of their 51st season, but for the 2020-21 Cavaliers, their game against the Pacers played Dec. 12 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was like a playoff game, or at least the first game in franchise history.
The Cavaliers are truly in a new beginning under Coach J.B. Bickerstaff, and it could not have ended better. Rookie Isaac Okoro made a layup, was fouled with 0.3 seconds to play and then made the free throw to win a 107-104 thriller.
Unfortunately, no fans were there to witness it. They are banned from preseason games because of the novel coronavirus, which means the FieldHouse will also be fanless Dec. 14 when the Cavs host the Pacers in their second of four preseason games. State and local officials have set the maximum number of fans at 300 for regular-season games.
Okoro finished with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
The Cavs will face the Pacers again tonight, then head to New York for two preseason bouts with the Knicks.
