Ty Jerome did not hold back when discussing the officiating after the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 133-129 overtime win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
“I thought the refs were really bad tonight. Especially Natalie, she was really bad,” Jerome said, per Danny Cunningham. The game was officiated by Pat Fraher, Jenna Schroeder, and Natalie Sago.
Jerome played a key role in Cleveland’s victory, stepping up in Donovan Mitchell’s absence to score 25 points off the bench. De’Andre Hunter led the Cavaliers with a season-high 32 points, including a clutch three-pointer in overtime that put Cleveland ahead for good.
The Cavaliers (50-10) extended their winning streak to 10 games and became the first team in the league to reach 50 wins this season. They trailed by as many as 18 points in the third quarter before rallying to win for the 14th time in their last 15 games.
Evan Mobley added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Jarrett Allen finished with 12 points and 10 boards. Darius Garland struggled from the field, shooting 4-of-16, but contributed defensively with a key deflection in overtime.
Portland (27-34) was led by Deni Avdija, who recorded his first career triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Anfernee Simons scored 27, and Toumani Camara added 19, but the Blazers could not close out the game in overtime.
Cleveland’s comeback started with a 37-point third quarter, followed by a 40-point fourth that forced overtime. Hunter’s late-game heroics, including two free throws in the final seconds, sealed the win after Avdija missed a potential game-tying three.
The Cavaliers improved to 28-4 at home and continue to hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
