Cleveland @ Portland Game Overview

The Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers feel their worst funk of the campaign is behind them as they enter Tuesday's road game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Cleveland (57-14) dropped four straight games before turning things around with a 120-91 rout of the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

The performance didn't eliminate all the concern over the recent play that saw the Cavaliers allow an average of 121.5 points in the four setbacks.

But Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson wasn't interested in overlooking all the strong games over the course of the campaign.

"This stretch here, we haven't played great, obviously," Atkinson said after the rout of the Jazz. "We're in a tough stretch of the schedule but I will take the other 97 percent of the season and I know who this team is and what we need to do. I'm not going to overreact to it."

The Cavaliers' situation is much more preferable than the one faced by Portland -- even though Donovan Mitchell will sit out on Tuesday to rest his ailing left groin.

The Trail Blazers (32-40) need as many wins as they can find over the final 10 games. They trail the Suns and Mavericks by three games in the race for the final Western Conference play-in spot. Both Phoenix and Dallas earned wins on Monday night.

"We're scrapping our butts off trying to win every game," Portland coach Chauncey Billups said.

The Trail Blazers had a four-game winning streak halted with Sunday's 129-116 home loss to the Boston Celtics, the defending NBA champions.

Boston defeated Portland while playing without starters Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

The Trail Blazers trailed by as many as 18 while being unable to compete with the short-handed Celtics.

"They're the world champions, champions' pedigree," Billups said. "I was pleased with the way we played, honestly. ... That's a team that's just better than we are."

Shaedon Sharpe scored 23 points for Portland. It was his second straight 23-point outing and marked the fifth time he scored 20 or more this month.

"I think we're playing together, hitting shots and playing defense," Sharpe said.

The Trail Blazers are 4-2 on a seven-game homestand and have held things together despite a trio of veterans missing ample time.

Robert Williams III last played on Feb. 20 and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last week. Williams played in just 20 games this season.

Deandre Ayton last played on Feb. 10 with a left calf strain. Ayton has played in 40 games and progress has been slow on his injury.

Jerami Grant hasn't played since March 9 due to a right knee injury. He has missed the past seven games and has played in 47 contests. He is listed as doubtful for Tuesday's game.

Portland put up a good fight against the Cavaliers on March 2 before falling 133-129 in overtime. De'Andre Hunter scored 32 for Cleveland and Deni Avdija recorded his first career triple double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the Trail Blazers.

That was the sixth time in the past seven meetings that the Cavaliers prevailed against Portland.

Against Utah, Jarrett Allen scored 18 points and Mitchell added 16 as six players scored in double digits for the Cavaliers.

Big man Evan Mobley had 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots to help Cleveland get its first win on a five-game road trip. The excursion ends in Portland.

Atkinson said the Cavaliers played with more joy in the second half when they outscored the Jazz 69-46.

Atkinson said the goal over the final 11 games is "keeping this team healthy for the playoffs."

"At the end of the day, it's our No. 1 priority," he added.

--Field Level Media