One of the NBA’s hottest teams faces one of the coldest when the soaring Cleveland Cavaliers visit the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Cleveland has clinched victory in four games in a row and 12 of its past 13. The Cavaliers are coming off a 108-101 win in Memphis on Thursday.

San Antonio has lost three consecutive games and nine of the previous 12. Donovan Mitchell was the top scorer for Cleveland with 25 points against the Grizzlies.

Max Strus achieved his sixth career double-double (his fourth this season) with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Caris LeVert contributed 16 points coming off the bench. Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff expressed his appreciation for LeVert’s role as a substitute.

“That’s just what he does,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s a guy who can just get it going and can contribute on both ends. He gets steals, pushes it in transition, offensively. He pushes, he attacks, he makes plays happen. And it seemed like he just continues to make timely shots when we need him most.”

The Cavaliers rebounded from a 12-point deficit in the second quarter and assumed control in the second half, outscoring injury-plagued Memphis by 14 points after halftime.

“I thought our guys did a good job just showing resolve,” Bickerstaff added. “Obviously, we were much better in the second half. Our defense is what makes us.”

Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen accumulated 14 points and nine rebounds before sustaining a left ankle injury in the third quarter, ending his record streak of 16 consecutive games with a double-double.

Allen was categorized as questionable for the Saturday match. Darius Garland, who made his second successive appearance after missing the previous 19 games due to a fractured jaw, scored nine points and delivered seven assists.

San Antonio will be competing in the second leg of a back-to-back at home after suffering a 114-113 loss to New Orleans on Friday.

The Spurs led by three points with 43 seconds to play but lost when the Pelicans’ Zion Williamson executed a dunk and then a layup, the latter with 3.8 seconds to play.

The Spurs had an opportunity to win, but Devin Vassell missed a 3-point attempt with a second left. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked if he obtained the desired shot at the end.

“Yes. … We would have liked to have been able to lob it in there and dunk it, but the shot was what we got,” Popovich said.

Vassell led the Spurs with 28 points, and Tre Jones contributed 20. Victor Wembanyama scored 16 points, secured 14 rebounds, supplied seven assists, and posted three blocks while Jeremy Sochan accumulated 15 points and 16 rebounds for San Antonio.

The Spurs converted just 11 of 18 from the free-throw line and made only 10 of their 39 3-point attempts. San Antonio did collect a season-high 18 offensive rebounds. The Spurs were without influential reserve guard Keldon Johnson, who missed his second consecutive game due to a lacerated left elbow.

Johnson is expected to return for the Saturday competition. San Antonio is about to wrap up a homestand that has so far comprised two victories and four defeats.

After Saturday, the team embarks on its customary three-week Rodeo Road Trip, taking the Spurs away from home for nine games.