Cavs getting healthy at the right time

Reinforcements are on the way. The Cavaliers won handily in New Orleans on Wednesday when shooting guard Donovan Mitchell returned after a seven-game absence. Now, reserve center Tristan Thompson will be available tonight in Houston on Cleveland's second stop on a three-game road trip. Starters Evan Mobley and Max Strus remain on the sideline although they are presumably getting close to a return. Backup forward Dean Wade's return is also imminent. The Cavs (42-24) are getting healthy at the most important time. Cleveland will face the Houston Rockets (31-35) tonight in the Toyota Center. The Cavs trimmed the Rockets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 135-130, in overtime on Dec. 18, overcoming guard Fred VanVleet's 27 points, eight rebounds and 17 assists. They have won six of their last seven games against Houston, as well as nine of their last 10 against Western Conference opponents. Cleveland is 20-11 on the road this season, second best in the NBA. The Cavs thumped New Orleans on Wednesday, 116-95, the 12th time this season they have held their opponent under 100 points. They attempted just three free throws in the win over the Pelicans, marking the second-fewest attempts in a win in Cleveland history (the Cavs won 101-87 Nov. 26, 1994, over Golden State when they attempted only two free throws). The Cavs shot a torrid 20-of-45 from the 3-point line against New Orleans, which marked the ninth game this season they've made 20 or more threes. Point guard Darius Garland has led the 3-point barrage as of late. He was 6-of-10 from behind the arc against the Pelicans, as he recorded his third double-double of the season with 27 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and one block. Since the All-Star break, he's buried the most 3-pointers in the league with 53-of-114 (.465), seven more than Dallas' Luka Doncic. "We have a goal of how many high-quality shots we are looking for," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "If we're open, we want to take them. It boosts our offense because people have to chase us around. We've tried to make the 3-point shot a weapon." With Mobley and Wade sidelined, the Cavs have been getting good minutes out of Georges Niang, who is averaging 14.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in his last five games. He had 16 points and six rebounds against New Orleans. Niang has contributed to Cleveland's long-range attack, as well, as he's made 17 of 34 from the 3-point line in his last six games. Bickerstaff was a former interim head coach of the Rockets in 2015-16 and led them to the playoffs that year. He was also an assistant coach in Houston. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.