Dennis Schroder praised the Cleveland Cavaliers’ performance following their 124-89 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Intuit Dome, just hours after the blockbuster James Harden-Darius Garland trade.
“Great group of guys, under 50 points at half. Really competitive group who wants to play defense and then share the ball on offense. I love it. I feel comfortable already,” Schroder said about his new team.
On the team’s defensive performance, Schroder added, “Being scrappy off turnovers, trying to score… we did a great job. We just have to keep getting better every single day, every game. Of course, James is going to come and do the same thing.”
Schroder reflected on the business side of basketball, noting his experience with multiple teams. “I just understand it’s a business at the end of the day and that’s what it is,” he said.
He also discussed the personal connection with Cavaliers owner Kenny. “It’s super cool to have that full-circle moment… I got to the league in 2013, he was the guy. It’s a privilege to play for him and I’m going to leave it all out there.”
Schroder highlighted the significance of joining a championship-focused environment. “It’s always great to be in an organization where people care and want to compete. Every single game you want to go out there and win. There’s meaningful basketball and that’s what I love.”
On playing alongside James Harden, Schroder expressed excitement. “He’s a future Hall of Famer, one of the best who ever played this game. I’m 32, but I can still learn and pick the best things from him. We’re going to fit very well.”
He also addressed their past on-court rivalry. “Nothing bad… he knows I’m always doing it to impact the game. We played cards in the bubble back in the day, so it’s cool. Probably going to talk about it one time and then move on.”
Cleveland dominated the Clippers behind Donovan Mitchell’s 29 points and nine assists, Jaylon Tyson’s 17 points, and Jarrett Allen’s 10 points and 11 rebounds. Schroder added 11 points in his Cavaliers debut, while Keon Ellis contributed six points.
The Cavaliers shot 51% from the field, made 16 three-pointers, and forced 24 turnovers, converting them into 47 points. Los Angeles struggled, shooting 21.4% from beyond the arc and committing turnovers that stalled offensive rhythm. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 25 points, while John Collins added 19.
Cleveland improved to 30-21, climbing to fifth in the Eastern Conference, while Los Angeles dropped to 23-26. The Cavaliers continue their road trip at Sacramento on Saturday, and the Clippers face the Kings on Friday.
