The Cleveland Cavaliers began the 2025 NBA preseason with a hard-fought 118-117 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The starting five, which featured Jaylon Tyson and De’Andre Hunter in for Sam Merrill and Max
Strus, only played three stints together before taking the rest of the night off.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
7 points (3-5 shooting), 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
, 17 minutesThere isn’t much for a superstar like Mitchell to gain from the preseason other than some warm-up reps before the actual basketball beings. With that in mind, this first game felt like a warm-up for Mitchell. He didn’t put much pressure on the rim or exert himself defensively. Other than a few moments here and there, Mitchell was mostly going through the motions. Who could blame him?
Grade: C+
Evan Mobley
12 points (8-12 shooting), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Everyone has talked about getting Mobley the ball more often this season. But a crucial part of that is Mobley wanting the ball and seeking his own shot. So far, so good.
Mobley was aggressive with every touch tonight. He pulled an early three-pointer over drop coverage in the first quarter — then later brought the ball up the floor and burrowed his way into the paint for a turnaround jumper. These are the types of self-created plays that Mobley needs to turn into consistent parts of his game to take the next step in his development.
Grade: A
Jarrett Allen
5 points (2-4 shooting), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 17 minutes
Allen’s game went the same way as Mitchell’s. This was a relatively uneventful game from the former All-Star. The Cavs will ask for more from Allen in the regular season. But for now, this is about all anyone expects from the first preseason game.
Grade: C
De’Andre Hunter
17 points (7-9 shooting), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 18 minutes
Hunter didn’t need any time to shake the offseason rust. He began the game red-hot by burying seven of his first eight attempts from the field. A handful of shots came from plays that seemed specifically designed for him to score.
This is a luxury the Cavs haven’t always had at the starting small forward spot — but Hunter’s size, handle and shooting ability allow Cleveland to put him in dynamic actions that can lead to efficient offense. If he’s able to score like this (and chip in on the defensive glass), then the Cavs will have no problem keeping him as their full-time starter.
Grade: A+
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Jaylon Tyson
0 points (0-5 shooting), 3 assists, 0 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Tyson got the start tonight after Sam Merrill was a late scratch with a minor injury. It’s clear the coaching staff believes in Tyson — and it’s even more clear that he understands what’s expected of him when he’s on the court. Tyson was a defensive hound in this game, opening with a pair of blocks to start his first stint.
The Cavs will welcome any additional scoring or ball-handling that Tyson can provide. As for how much offensive responsibility he can actually bear is yet to be determined. He went scoreless tonight by shooting 0-5. But as for the intangibles, such as hustle, picking up full court and fighting over screens — Tyson is already showing his worth.
Grade: C+
Craig Porter Jr.
17 points (6-9 shooting), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Porter unleashed the heat from downtown by nailing 5-of-5 three-point attempts. This was an impressive display of marksmanship, the type we haven’t seen from Porter in years past. He’s always been an effective scorer and passer when attacking in transition or running downhill off a broken play. But Porter will have more opportunities to play with an advantage if he’s able to space the floor like he did tonight.
Grade: A+
Larry Nance Jr.
11 points (4-9 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Nance is shaping up to be a seamless fit in Cleveland’s system. He’s a rangy, switchable forward who can play just about any role defensively. Then, on offense, Nance showcased his ability to be a mini offensive hub where dribble-hand-offs can be funneled through him. His broad shoulders make him perfect for these DHO plays, where trailing defenders have to chase over him. More so, Nance is a heady passer for his size and can keep the offense moving when the first action fails.
I’m not looking to get carried away. The Cavs won’t be running all of their offense through Nance. But having a dynamic role player who can pop off the bench and distribute the ball while raising their defensive floor is a win for the offseason.
Grade: A-
Lonzo Ball
0 points (0-4 shooting), 1 assist, 1 turnover, 12 minutes
Multiple Cavaliers raved about Ball’s intangibles this offseason. You’ll have to take their word that the box score won’t always reflect the value that Ball brings to a basketball court. He went scoreless and only recorded a single assist in 12 minutes.
Yet, anyone watching could see where Lonzo’s basketball skills will benefit this team in the long run. He moved the ball with precision, creating multiple clean looks that just didn’t drop. We can only assume the defensive intensity will increase when the real games officially begin.
Grade: C
Tyrese Proctor
14 points (5-6 shooting), 2 assists, 12 minutes
Proctor made himself comfortable right away by breaking free in transition for a layup, then dancing in isolation for a fadeaway jumper only minutes after checking into his first NBA preseason game. The scoring continued into the fourth quarter, when he canned a pair of three-pointers to momentarily give Cleveland the lead.
In just one game, Proctor showed Cleveland that he can be a microwave scorer off the bench. His shot-making is legit — even if the rest of his game still requires some polishing.
Grade: A+
Dean Wade
2 points (1-5 shooting), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Wade did what Wade does. He played good defense. He grabbed some rebounds. And he shot the ball when he was left wide open.
Grade: C+
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
11 points (4-8 shooting), 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 fouls, 16 minutes
Tomlin played with frenetic energy. He was cutting every possession, and crashing both the offensive and defensive glass (two offensive boards). We didn’t see too much of his finer skills, such as the three-point shooting (1-3 tonight) or ball-handling, but Tomlin’s hustle made him impossible to miss.
Grade: A-
