Garland has blossomed into a closer.

The Cleveland Cavaliers started this West Coast road trip in the gutter. But because of a handful of strong performances tonight, they ended it with their heads held high. Darius Garland closed the doors on Portland as the Cavs won their second straight game.

Grades are based on our expectations of each player.

Darius Garland

27 points (11-19 shooting), 8 assists, 5 rebounds

This was a throwback game from Garland. No, I don’t mean a throwback DG game. I mean, a throwback in the sense that Garland only attempted three three-pointers but instead diced up the Portland defense like a 2000s-era All-Star point guard.

Garland put on a clinic tonight. He wielded a lethal dribble with crafty footwork to put the Blazers in a blender. His interior scoring was a sight to behold as not even Donovan Clingan could deter Garland from finishing at the rim.

This game was in contention with a few minutes left. Garland made sure that wouldn’t last long. He was surgical in the final minutes, stringing together seven straight points before burying a corner jumper to extend the lead to 12 points.

Garland’s growth as the closer has come out of nowhere. This is a man who previously struggled in the waning moments of games. That’s the case no longer. Garland is the best closer in the Land and one of the best in the entire association.

Grade: A+

Evan Mobley

21 points (8-15 shooting), 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks

Mobley looked like a player who was well aware of the Defensive Player of the Year race tonight. He was phenomenal at the rim, collecting 4 blocks and securing defensive stops with 11 defensive boards.

But we know Mobley can defend with the best of them. It’s his growth on offense that continues to impress me. Mobley scored 21 points on 15 shots, forcing his way to the rim for a thunderous dunk in the second half. This power move to the basket is something we just didn’t see from Mobley in years previous.

Grade: A+

Ty Jerome

25 points (9-15 shooting), 3 assists, 2 rebounds

You’ve seen this before. Garland or Mitchell are out with an injury, so Jerome steps up for a huge game. He put up 25 points in just 21 minutes.

No one expected this before the season. But Jerome has been as consistent as you could imagine in this scenario. He was torching Portland in the third quarter with a handful of tough three-pointers and his ever-impressive touch around the rim. Jerome’s floater and aggressive euro step don’t look like they should be effective. Yet, they are.

Grade: A+

Jarrett Allen

14 points (6-11 shooting), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

We didn’t see a monstrous double-double from Allen tonight, but we did see an effective fourth quarter from the big man. He ran the floor repeatedly for good looks at the rim and was rewarded for it.

Allen scored eight of his 14 points in the final frame. This was crucial to the game-sealing run that put Cleveland in the driver’s seat.

Grade: A-

Max Strus

5 points (2-6 shooting), 3 assists, 2 rebounds

Strus didn’t necessarily have it going from any aspect tonight. It was an off-game from three (1-4) and he only attempted two other field goals. Even his usual role as tertiary playmaker was a bit blunted tonight.

Nonetheless, I can’t think of anything Strus did that was actively bad. He was fine on defense and continued to provide spacing on offense, even if the results aren’t as tangible.

Grade: C

Sam Merrill

14 points (5-7 shooting), 3 assists, 2 rebounds

Merrill has had a stretch of doing everything but nailing three-pointers. So the fact that he hit four three-pointers tonight while passing even on defense and dishing three assists was a delight.

Grade: A+

Dean Wade

3 points (1-2 shooting), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 blocks

You know what you’re looking at at this point. Wade didn’t stuff the statsheet, but he provided the versatile wing defense that made him part of one of Cleveland’s best lineups in the fourth quarter. His two blocks and switchability on the perimeter make Wade a consistent positive.

Grade: B-

Isaac Okoro

2 points (1-3 shooting), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

The Cavs got a bunch of good stuff from Okoro today, even if he airballed a corner three to start the game.

Okoro was active on defense, forcing Portland into a key turnover during their second-half rally and repeatedly attacking closeouts for two big assists in the closing stretch. I’d like to see him hit a three-pointer but Okoro’s on-ball creation was legit plus.

Grade: B+

De’Andre Hunter

11 points (5-10 shooting), 3 rebounds, 1 steal

Hunter has proven he can score efficiently. That alone makes him a great addition to the Cavs. Still, we are waiting for him to be a consistent perimeter defender and more of a factor on the glass. Three boards tonight isn’t bad but his screen navigation was tough to watch.

Hunter has all the tools. He just has to apply himself. We’ve seen him do it at times already in a Cavs uniform. So let’s be clear — we aren’t getting buyer’s remorse. But this is something that will continue to factor into his grades.

Grade: B

Javonte Green

0 points (0-0 shooting), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 7 minutes

Green is a break glass in case of emergency guy. Today, Kenny Atkinson turned to Green for a boost of energy during a lackluster stretch of the first half. I can’t say it changed much. Green was active but it didn’t result in anything game-changing. There’s no sense in sweating it. Green isn’t going to be relied upon too heavily.

Grade: C-

THE owner of the world’s most expensive dog is plotting his next purchase – a donkey-sized £10million pooch.

Dog enthusiast S Sathish, 51, already owns an eye-watering £4.4million “wolfdog” who weighs way more than the average human.

His current dog, named Cadabomb Okami, became a worldwide sensation earlier this month after the eight-month-old puppy went viral on social media.

It is a cross between an actual wolf and a Caucasian Shepherd – making it the first of its kind, according to Sathish.

The pup already weighs a staggering 75kg and stands at over 2.5ft tall.

Sathish, a 50-year-old former dog breeder from Bangalore in southern Karnataka, has always been obsessed with rare breeds of dogs.

And despite Okami being a remarkable puppy in their own right, Sathish is confident he will soon own a pooch that is unlike anything ever seen before.

Encouraged by Okami’s new-found celebrity status, Sathish has vowed to buy a “donkey-sized” dog worth £10million – which can only be moved by helicopter.

He told The Sun: “This dog is the size of a donkey. No one has seen it before.

“I will launch it in April and I will use a helicopter. I have been trying to get it for the last six months. It will cost me 100 crore rupees (£10million).”

Sathish admits to spending all his cash on new pets rather than fancy cars or houses.

He said: “People earn money to buy a big house or a car but not me. My dogs are my assets.

“I have no money in the bank because I re-invest my money in dogs. I like when people stop and look at them. I love publicity, show-offs.”

The flamboyant dog enthusiast first fell in love with the four-legged friends when he was only six-years-old.

He managed to convince his family to adopt 20 mutts after being left heartbroken by the number of street dogs, he said.

And his passion for pooches only continued as Sathish grew up and he became a breeder in 1989.

Recalling his dog-filled past, Sathish said: “Loving dogs is in my blood.

“I gave treatment and food to the street dogs. Once, one of my dogs died and I cried for a month.

“My father got me a cross breed dog between a Doberman and Great Dane. It was my first quality breed dog and that’s how my journey started.”

His business soon took off with Sathish giving away dogs for free in return for him being allowed to keep the puppies in the litter so he could sell them on.

After a few short years, he had managed to build up a collection of over 150 breeds, including Tibetan Mastiffs, Korean Mastiffs, Alaskan Malamutes and Caucasian Shepherds.

And many of the dogs were brand new to Indians, meaning Sathish quickly grew in popularity.

Then, ten years ago, he stopped breeding and switched to buying extremely rare dogs.

Sathish said his dream has always been to become famous alongside his pets – something his new career has helped make a reality.

He parades the dogs around high-profile events, including film screenings, club openings, product promotions and even religious functions to impress guests and the rich and famous.

The events can earn Sathish and his spoiled pups anywhere between £2,200 for just 30 minutes – or up to £9,000 for a full five hours.

“I am a crowd puller,” he said.

“Even actors and politicians don’t get the attention that I get.”

He claims event organisers not only pay him but also shower him with gifts including a seven-million rupees (£63,000) diamond necklace.

Over the years, Sathish says he has invested more than £10million in buying expensive and rare dogs from all over the world.

He has managed to collect lovable pets from Russia, China, America, Switzerland, New Zealand and even Thailand.

Sathish’s most interesting dogs

Okami is Sathish’s most valuable, tallest and biggest dog to date.

But his sheer size has meant he is also one of the only pooches who hasn’t been able to find a second home.

The dog is the size of a two-seater sofa and his giant head is larger than an NBA basketball.

His paws are even bigger than the average adult human’s palm.

Another issue with Okami is his impervious size meant he was the perfect guard dog and was trained up to be one from a puppy.

This means he can often be fiercely protective and is now kept safe at a secret location for security reasons by a young couple.

Sathish added: “He behaves and looks like a wolf but is not that ferocious. He plays with us but not with strangers. At the first event, people took selfies with him and he was calm.

“This dog is expensive because it is an antique piece, he is only one-of-its-kind.”

He also bought a rare Chow Chow that strikingly resembles a red and white Qinling panda.

The adorable pup was purchased for £2.5million.

The same price also got Sathish a Caucasian shepherd, named Cadaboms Hayder.

The guard dog, whose breed is native to Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, is used to guide and protect herds of livestock from wolves.

The staggering price of some of Sathish’s dogs have even drawn the attention of the government’s animal department across the years.

They have slapped him with notices over his behaviour but Sathish has always been adamant he is not doing anything illegal and is providing the pets with a life of luxury and comfort.

He said: “I introduce unique dogs and bring India on the global map yet some people abuse me.

“But I don’t care because I love dogs and don’t harm them.”

He has also continued to work to save as many street dogs as he can.