Mitchell was electric all night.
The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t have responded much better to their three-game skid. While their competition wasn’t elite, dominant wins over the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat are exactly what the doctor ordered for Cleveland.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
34 points (14-23 shooting), 6 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals
With no Darius Garland tonight — the Cavs needed a throwback performance from Mitchell. He hasn’t been required to control every aspect of the offense since last season. But tonight, Mitchell reminded us why he is such a special talent.
Mitchell was firmly ahead of Miami’s defense all night. He carved them to perfection, pouring on five three-pointers even when the rest of his teammates combined for just seven of their own.
Overall, it’s good the Cavaliers aren’t relying on Mitchell’s one-man army approach this season. Still, it’s fun to watch when it happens.
Grade: A+
Evan Mobley
22 points (10-15 shooting), 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Mobley knew the Cavaliers would need some scoring from him tonight. In years past, this would have been a tall order. This season? It’s enough said. Mobley was aggressive from the jump and had no issue carrying his share of the offensive load.
The strength and confidence Mobley has gained can’t be overlooked. He worked around Bam Adebayo numerous times to score in the paint. This is something he just wasn’t capable of in previous seasons.
The NBA All-Star reserves are set to be announced tomorrow. With how dominant Mobley has been on both ends of the floor this season, it’s hard to imagine he’s left out.
Grade: A+
Jarrett Allen
12 points (5-7 shooting), 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Allen didn’t set anything ablaze in his 29 minutes but he did all of the things you expect him to do in a Cavs victory. He put a deadbolt on the paint, ran the floor for easy opportunities — and cleaned the offensive glass for a handful of putbacks in the second half. Allen remains the sturdy two-way presence this team benefits from in most of their wins.
Grade: A-
Max Strus
8 points (3-11 shooting), 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Eventually, the Cavs will need Strus to actually hit his shots. But right now? They are riding the wave of this phenomenal two-way play he’s had this week.
Strus was instrumental in defending Cade Cunningham on Tuesday and tonight he accepted the challenge against another potential All-Star guard in Tyler Herro. His perimeter defense has kept the Cavaliers competitive without Dean Wade, Caris LeVert or Isaac Okoro.
Grade: B
Georges Niang
15 points (6-9 shooting), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Niang shot 1-9 in his previous game, receiving an F grade. This time, he played significantly better on both ends of the floor. His timely three-pointers contributed to the Cavaliers onslaught that helped them pull away during the fourth quarter. And, he even picked up a few hard-fought rebounds.
Grade: A-
Ty Jerome
20 points (9-18 shooting), 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Jerome has surprised everyone this season. Even after he seemingly crashed down to Earth in December, he has once again sparked the magic that made him one of the most lethal bench players in the NBA this season.
The Cavs bought low on Jerome and have reaped massive rewards. His 20 points and 7 assists off the bench allowed them to coast in a game they were missing Garland. This is the best possible outcome you could have imagined when adding Jerome to the team in 2023.
Grade: A+
Jaylon Tyson
4 points (2-7 shooting), 5 rebounds, 4 assists
The rook got the start tonight. And while he hasn’t found his scoring touch yet — he’s made an impact in every other facet of the game.
Tyson works hard on defense. He’s a physical presence who matches up with multiple positions. The fact that he’s bought into exerting himself defensively while hardly touching the ball on offense is a great sign for his long-term development.
We’d like to see him space the floor a bit better (0-3 from deep). But Tyson is able to break even by being a smart off-ball cutter and a constant threat to grab rebounds. He clawed in three offensive rebounds in 30 minutes tonight.
Grade: B
Craig Porter
9 points (4-7 shooting), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Porter still faces the same challenges he discovered in the back half of his rookie season. In short, it’s tough being a point guard who can’t shoot from the perimeter in today’s NBA.
Still, Porter was a positive against Miami because of his ability to break free in transition. His best moments came on the break while his presence on the glass makes up for the occasional defensive lapse. At least, it did tonight.
Grade: B-