The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 113-109 in a revenge match from last week.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
James Harden
18 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 turnovers
The Cavs don’t win this game without James Harden. That’s not because he carried them by any means, but he’s raised their floor in a meaningful way since landing in Cleveland. Just having a Hall of Fame-level creator to keep the offense from falling off a cliff is a luxury few teams have.
Harden shot 5-17
from the field tonight and turned it over five times. But none of that changes what I wrote above. The pressure that Harden put on Detroit’s defense to keep him contained is what made this a winnable game for the Cavaliers.
Grade: B
Jarrett Allen
8 points, 3 rebounds, 20 minutes
Allen only played 20 minutes before leaving the game with a knee injury. Let’s hope it’s nothing worth worrying about.
Grade: Incomplete
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Evan Mobley
18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Mobley had some uber-aggressive moments in this game. Like his 1-on-1 drive against Duncan Robinson or a spin move around Javonte Green into a dunk. Those flashes were the best part of the game. And while he didn’t collect as many rebounds as you’d like, he did play his role in boxing out Detroit’s frontcourt and opening opportunities for his teammates to clean the glass.
Grade: B+
Jaylon Tyson
22 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers
Can Jordyn Tyson come to every game and support his brother?
Jaylon Tyson played his best game in weeks, giving the Cavs a huge boost in the scoring department and setting the tone with his energy on defense. This game was a classic example of everything that we’ve come to love from JT.
Grade: A+
Dennis Schroder
15 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds
Schroder looks like he’s being shot out of a cannon on his way to the rim, at times. He’s an incredibly fun player to watch when his usage is correctly dialed in. His attacks on the basket helped to lead the way tonight.
Grade: A
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Sam Merrill
9 points, 2 assists
This had the potential to be an explosive game from Merrill. He had a few open opportunities that missed the mark before Detroit’s defense eventually took him off the board as a scorer. It wasn’t until the closing minutes that Merrill finally freed himself up again for a huge three-pointer.
Grade: C+
Keon Ellis
7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 steals
If Ellis is on the court, there’s a good chance the ball is being deflected in one way or another. He’s everywhere defensively, and that activity made him the first player off the bench in Kenny Atkinson’s rotation tonight. A few unfortunate calls led to Ellis fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Grade: B+
Craig Porter Jr.
7 points, 3 assists, 8 rebounds
Porter is having a weird week. He’s undoubtedly had some ugly moments, but he’s also raised the floor in certain scenarios with crucial plays to swing momentum. His offensive rebound and putback layup to end the third quarter is one example of this. A dunk over Isaiah Stewart is another.
Still, Porter’s limitations as a three-point shooter remain an issue.
Grade: B
Thomas Bryant
9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Bryant converted a four-point play in the third quarter. That alone is worth the grade I’m about to give him.
Grade: A+
