THE CLEVELAND Cavaliers have won the 2023 NBA Summer League, after defeating the Houston Rockets by 21 points in the Championship game on Tuesday morning AEST.

Both teams came into the match unbeaten from five games, boasting strong young cores with plenty of chemistry and cohesion on the court. It was evident these were the two best sides in the tournament, and it was a fitting way to close out proceedings with this matchup.

The Cavaliers jumped out of the blocks, finding the bottom of the net as a unit quite easily in the opening minutes, while the going was a bit tougher for Houston. Strong defensive work from Cleveland ensured the Rockets had to fight extremely hard for the open look, and as a result, the Cavaliers took a 14-point lead into the first change, looking far sharper than their opponents.

It was an improved performance from the Rockets in the second quarter, bringing things back with a 9-0 run in the middle of the term on the back of some elite three-point shooting. Extreme pressure on the opposition ball-handler meant Houston could get some open looks in transition, and its perimeter shooters ensured the deficit was cut down to five at the main break.

The Cavaliers came out of halftime looking to regain control of the match, and did so thanks to some strong ball movement and shooting from behind the arc. Houston’s hot shooting had worn off and the team struggled to replicate the offensive production that yielded a comeback in the second term, with Cleveland’s class proving too much as the margin again ballooned out to double-digits.

The fourth quarter was more of the same, as the Cavaliers slammed the door shut on any sort of a comeback from the Rockets. Their offence continued to flow smoothly, with nearly every player getting involved and either creating or scoring a basket. In the end, Cleveland cruised home to a 99-78 win, capping off a terrific Summer League performance.

Aussie Luke Travers played a key role in the success of the winning side in the deciding match, and although he did not have the biggest stats, the young gun did some important things. He guarded the dangerous Cam Whitmore and held him to just 14 points, which was vital in ensuring Houston did not get to a winning score, while posting six points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and two blocks.

Isaiah Mobley (brother of star forward Evan and the 49th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft) led the way on the scoring front. He delivered an impressive double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds on 12/20 shooting from the field. The Cavaliers looked to get the ball in his hands in post-up situations, given his height advantage over his direct opponent.

Not far behind him was Sam Merrill, who delivered 27 points of his own on 8/14 shooting from the field and 6/12 shooting from three-point territory. The guard has a smooth jump shot and was given some good looks thanks to the passing of his teammates.

Now teams will ramp up preparations for the season starting in October, with plenty of players developing their craft over the course of the Summer League fixture.