Cavs make 23 3-pointers, down Kings for sixth straight win and 14th in their last 15 games

CLEVELAND — At this point, it doesn't seem to matter who the NBA schedule makers put in front of the Cavaliers. No matter the foe, the Cavs are so scorching hot, they'll likely take them apart. The Sacramento Kings were their latest lopsided conquest, a 136-110 win Monday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavs staggered the Kings with a 3-point barrage, matching their season high by making 23 of 41 attempts (.561). Swingman Max Strus and guard Donovan Mitchell were the main long-distance perpetrators, combining for 51 points and 11 threes. Cleveland was just two 3-pointers shy of its franchise record of 25 set March 3, 2017, vs. Atlanta. "It's a weapon," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "More important to me is how we're creating them." That would be by sharing the ball. The Cavs dished out 36 assists on 51 field goals. Mitchell led all scorers with 29 points and the Cavs had seven players reach double figures in scoring. It was Cleveland's sixth win in a row and 14th in the last 15 games. The Cavs (32-16) moved percentage points ahead of idle Milwaukee (33-17) into first place in the Central Division and, more importantly, second in the Eastern Conference playoff race. "It's good, but it's February," Mitchell said. "We're playing as a group. We're cohesive. Everyone has risen to the occasion when their name has been called." Strus had two steals, both coming against Kings center Domantas Sabonis. His last one came when Sacramento was still within striking distance in the third quarter. He took the ball and sped to the corner for a wide-open 3-pointer. "Those plays are deflating to the other team," Mitchell said. "He's a winner. Sometimes he doesn't get enough credit. He comes from that Heat culture." Bickerstaff said the play was a "momentum shifter." "Guys feed off it," he said. Strus finished with 22 points and five rebounds. "It's been fun," he said. "We're celebrating each other. We're moving the ball and sharing it." Cavs power forward Evan Mobley, in just his fourth game back from knee surgery, finished with 11 points, a team-high 14 rebounds, a team-high seven assists and two steals. The team's other brute force inside, center Jarrett Allen, was also impressive with 19 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Sacramento (29-20), making its final stop on a seven-game road trip, was led by Sabonis, who finished with a triple-double with 12 points, a game-high 19 rebounds and a game-high 15 assists. "They are a tough matchup," Bickerstaff said. "We clamped down (defensively) in the fourth quarter. They really stress you." The Cavs outscored the Kings 30-18 in the fourth quarter to turn the game into a blowout. Cleveland led 74-59 at halftime, the most points by the Cavs in any half this season. Forward Harrison Barnes paced the Kings with 22 points and guard De'Aaron Fox added 19. Mitchell steps up Mitchell has accepted an invitation to compete in the 3-point contest at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis on Feb. 17. "Sam (Merrill) wouldn't do it," Mitchell said. "He wanted to be with his family. Why not go and win it for him? I believe I can go out there and win it." Road warriors The Cavs will embark on a three-game road trip later in the week. Cleveland's 14-8 record on the road is best in the NBA, just percentage points better than Boston's 15-9. Bickerstaff attributes the road record to the team's maturation. 10-man band The Cavs coach said he'll continue to play 10 men in his rotation. "We're still working that through," he said. Bickerstaff said the first half is scripted with players' minutes. The reserves who are playing well usually see action in the second half. Merrill will continue to stay in the rotation. Bickerstaff said 10 players have earned playing time though a nine-person rotation is more conventional. He's back Radio announcer Jim Chones returned for the Kings game after an extended absence due to an illness. Play-by-play man Tim Alcorn has been doing the games by himself. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X. Cavaliers 136, Kings 110 SACRAMENTO (110): Barnes 8-15 0-0 22, Murray 4-9 0-0 10, Sabonis 6-9 0-0 12, Fox 8-20 0-0 19, Huerter 4-9 0-0 10, Edwards 2-5 0-0 5, Lyles 2-5 3-4 7, C.Jones 0-1 0-2 0, Len 0-0 0-0 0, McGee 0-2 0-0 0, Da.Mitchell 1-3 0-0 2, Duarte 1-2 2-2 5, Ellis 0-1 0-0 0, Monk 7-12 2-4 18. Totals 43-93 7-12 110. CLEVELAND (136): E.Mobley 5-12 1-2 11, Strus 8-13 0-0 22, Allen 8-10 3-4 19, Do.Mitchell 11-20 2-2 29, Garland 4-7 1-1 11, Niang 1-4 0-0 2, Wade 2-2 0-0 6, Okoro 3-4 2-4 10, D.Jones 0-0 0-0 0, LeVert 6-12 2-4 17, Merrill 3-4 0-0 9, Porter Jr. 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 51-88 11-17 136. Sacramento&emsp;34&emsp;25&emsp;33&emsp;18&emsp;—&emsp;110Cleveland&emsp; 39&emsp;35&emsp;32&emsp;30&emsp;—&emsp;1363-Point Goals—Sacramento 17-44 (Barnes 6-10, Fox 3-9, Monk 2-4, Murray 2-4, Huerter 2-5, Duarte 1-2, Edwards 1-4, Da.Mitchell 0-1, Ellis 0-1, McGee 0-1, Lyles 0-3), Cleveland 23-41 (Strus 6-10, Do.Mitchell 5-11, LeVert 3-4, Merrill 3-4, Okoro 2-2, Wade 2-2, Garland 2-4, E.Mobley 0-1, Niang 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Sacramento 40 (Sabonis 19), Cleveland 45 (E.Mobley 14). Assists—Sacramento 28 (Sabonis 15), Cleveland 36 (E.Mobley, LeVert 7). Total Fouls—Sacramento 18, Cleveland 15. A—19,432 (19,432)