For the third straight game, the Cleveland Cavaliers built a hefty lead. Only this time, they kept their foot on the gas and left Detroit in the dust behind a 116-95 win.
Grades are based on our usual expectations
for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
35 points (13-18 shooting), 2 assists, 1 rebound, 5 turnovers
This was a special game from Mitchell. He put on an AND-1 clinic, getting into the lane with shifty crossovers, his patented over-the-head move, and a lethal shamgod. The Pistons looked utterly hopeless trying to stay in front of him. Meanwhile, Mitchell looked like he was playing a pickup game against street-level competition.
Mitchell has now scored 30+ points in three of Cleveland’s four games this season. He’s done a fantastic job of leading the Cavaliers’ offense while Darius Garland recovers from a toe injury.
Grade: A+
Evan Mobley
15 points (5-10 shooting), 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal, 2 turnovers
Mobley was aggressive in this one. He repeatedly put his head down and charged into the paint throughout the first half. This resulted in plenty of free throws. He also put pressure on the defense to collapse, which allowed Mobley to rack up 5+ assists for the second straight game.
There’s still plenty of room for Mobley to grow. His handle, for example, feels behind where it needs to be. And he’s perhaps become too reliant on jumpers for a player of his size. But there were always going to be speed bumps during the process of turning Mobley into a volume scorer. This is part of the journey — and the early results have been trending positive.
Grade: A
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De’Andre Hunter
13 points (4-11 shooting), 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers
Hunter’s second game of the season came in a back-to-back. He looked unbothered by the potential fatigue, putting together a quality two-way performance.
We’ve come to expect Hunter to shoot more than he passes. But tonight, Hunter played a great game from a playmaking perspective. He consistently found the open man, notching a career-high in assists.
Grade: A-
Jarrett Allen
20 points (7-12 shooting), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers
Allen didn’t back down from a physical Detroit frontcourt. He worked to control both paints, scoring in the restricted area and serving as a defensive anchor for the Cavaliers. He scored 20 points for the second time this season and delivered the highlight of the night late in the third quarter.
This was one of Allen’s best games from an off-ball standpoint. He flashed to all the right spots of the floor and was rewarded for it.
Grade: A
Sam Merrill
11 points (4-7 shooting), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 18 minutes
Merrill is in a flow state. He’s picking and choosing all of the right spots to get his shot rolling. The Pistons were chasing him around the floor all night — and Merrill made them pay for poor closeouts with his one-dribble relocations. He even torched them with a floater off the glass.
He left the game with a hip contusion during the third quarter. Hopefully, the Cavs are only being cautious with his health, as this game was long over by then.
Grade: A+
Dean Wade
5 points (1-3 shooting), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
Wade hasn’t shot the ball particularly well over the last two games but he remains a sturdy defender who can impact the game through his rebounding. He checked Cade Cunningham through various stretches and played a key role in stiffling Detroit’s offense.
Grade: B–
Larry Nance Jr.
3 points (1-2 shooting), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Nance is fitting in well with Cleveland’s bench. He’s given them size, screening, and additional playmaking in the frontcourt. He did all of those things again tonight.
Grade: B
Jaylon Tyson
2 points (0-3 shooting), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover
This hasn’t been the start to the season that Tyson would have hoped for. He’s been an awkward fit on offense and his defense isn’t making up for it. He plays hard, though. And that’s worth commending.
Grade: C+
Craig Porter Jr.
4 points (1-4 shooting), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover
Porter filled in for Lonzo Ball, who didn’t play tonight as he has ruled out back-to-backs for likely the rest of his career. Porter has played three straight games as a positive contributor. His energy and effort have been noticeable, including three offensive rebounds tonight and seven rebounds total. Porter’s defense has also been impactful, with six steals across his last two games.
Grade: A
