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Cleveland Cavaliers goalie Rajon Rondo tries to block a shot from Portland Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
Cleveland Cavaliers goalie Darius Garland defends against Portland Trail Blazers goalie Anfernee Simons, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Norman Powell, left, guards the Cleveland Cavaliers over Darius Garland during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Norman Powell, right, is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic shoots Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lauri Markkanen during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen dunks on a rebound during the first half of the NBA team’s basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore. On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
By ANNE M. PETERSON – AP Sports Writer
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Rajon Rondo has settled in perfectly with his new team.
Shortly after entering Friday night’s game against the Trail Blazers, Rondo scored 3 points and finished with 11 points in Cleveland’s 114-101 win.
“When the coach calls me I always try to be ready,†said Rondo, who was traded to the Cavaliers earlier this week. “It doesn’t matter if I start, get off the bench, play 28 minutes or two, it’s a great opportunity to be here and play for this team.”
Darius Garland had 26 points in the Cavaliers’ 22nd win, tying their tally for all of last season when they finished 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Rookie Evan Mobley added 18 points for Cleveland in the team’s first victory in Portland since January 2013.
“It was fun, the first two plays were kind of like, ‘Dang, that’s Rondo on the floor.’,†Garland said. “New face, but it was cool – Rondo is a really good guy, he’s a great vet, he’s a leader on the floor so it was fun playing with him.”
Norman Powell had 19 points for the Blazers, who have lost six of their last seven games.
“I thought we were playing hard, I thought we were doing certain things that we wanted to do,†said Powell. “I think we had, again, two or three minutes with a few gaps that they countered. We sank into a small hole, but we were able to react.
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