Ricky Rubio calms storm, helps Cavaliers rally past Pelicans to move to 19-4 at home
Jan. 16—A loud cheer erupted from the sellout crowd inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with 4:18 to play in the first quarter of a Jan. 16 Martin Luther King Day matinee game with the New Orleans Pelicans.
"Cavalier fans," the P.A. announcer instructed the throng, "Welcome back Ricky Rubio!"
And welcome him back they did.
PHOTOS: Cavaliers vs. Pelicans, Jan. 16, 2023
"It was fun to be out there and feel that roar from the people," Rubio said about 30 minutes after the game. "Last year, had a lot of fun here. It was like a second family to me. We had great chemistry with my brothers and this crowd, as well. They know what we have here."
The game was the third for Rubio since returning from a devastating left knee injury suffered in December 2021, but it was his first at the FieldHouse. He was on the floor for 16 minutes, 48 seconds — the longest stint in his return. His stat line — 1-for-4 shooting, no assists, one rebound, four fouls — does not show how he helped the Cavs improve to 19-4 at home with the 113-103 win.
Ricky Rubio is very happy to be back after missing 13 months recovering from a torn left ACL. He played 16:48 on Monday when the #Cavaliers rallied to beat the Pelicans, 113-103. pic.twitter.com/Di1SPiCaaT
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) January 16, 2023
It is going to take a while for Rubio to fit into the rotation the way he did before the knee injury abruptly ended his 2021-22 season, but that's OK. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has more than 30 games to figure out the chemistry before the final rush to the playoffs begins with four games in April.
"He's a point guard," Bickerstaff said before the game. "He has a high level of understanding of the game. He knows how to orchestrate the game, teach the game, share the game. It's gonna take some time before he's the best version of himself, obviously, because he has to play with his teammates some, too, and they have to learn to play with him and learn how he can help make their jobs easier.
"Just giving him time and giving him minutes, we all know what Ricky's capable of."
A left groin strain forced Cavaliers leading scorer Donovan Mitchell to leave the game with the Pelicans with 4:44 left in the third quarter. The Cavaliers trailed, 68-64.
#Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff reflects on what Martin Luther King meant to uniting our country and related King's message to today's environment. pic.twitter.com/uhDkBEAVNk
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) January 16, 2023
Mitchell did not return. Rubio replaced him and stayed in the game until 6:15 remained in the fourth quarter. Isaac Okoro replaced Rubio. In the roughly 10:30 Rubio was on the floor, the Cavs turned a four-point deficit to a 93-83 lead. The Cavs went on a 15-0 run when Rubio was on the floor.
"He gets everybody calm," Bickerstaff said after the game. "He understands the togetherness that's needed. When times are most difficult, he understands how to bring the group together. I think everybody needs that, and they believe in him and his ability to do that."
Rubio was very content as he sat in front of his locker after the game. He went through rehab to repair a torn ACL before, but he was 20 years old then. The recovery process takes longer for a 32-year-old man with 665 career NBA games on his tires.
"All the work I put in was worth it," Rubio said. "This was harder, but I was more grateful going through the rehab process. It was day and night, one to the other."
Mitchell was not part of the Cavaliers when Rubio was part of the team last season. Collin Sexton was injured in the 11th game of 2021-22. The Sexton injury meant a bigger role for Rubio.
Figuring how to fit Rubio in with Mitchell and Darius Garland is one of Bickerstaff's challenges.
"We filled a gap there (in the 15-0 run). We were playing toe-to-toe. Once we pushed to ball, we got an open court. It's one of the weapons we have. We haven't used it much."
The Cavaliers were plus-13 with Rubio in the game.
