The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a thriller to the Detroit Pistons.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Detroit Buzzer Operator
0 problems solved, 15-minute delay, 40,000 ears damaged
I don’t even know the official job title of whoever was in charge of the buzzer. All I know is they should start finding a new job after tonight.
Grade: F
Dennis Schroder
12 points, 9 assists, 1 rebound, 8 turnovers
The Cavs have turned to Schroder to carry them while they are without Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. That has led to some
pretty ugly box scores, like tonight. I can’t in good faith ignore 8 turnovers or 4-16 shooting.
But maybe I’m delusional, because I thought this game was better than the stat line suggests. Schroder’s usage was insanely high because the team didn’t have many other options. And for all the mistakes he made, the team’s best moments were often being funneled through Schroder’s aggression.
In short, the highs were high, and the lows were low. I don’t think a letter grade can accurately describe this one from Schroder.
Grade: C+
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Jarrett Allen
25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block
Allen ends the month with another strong performance. For all the lack of “toughness” we hear about, Allen has always seemed to fare well against the Pistons. If he hadn’t fouled out in the fourth, Cleveland might have gotten over the hump.
Grade: A
Evan Mobley
23 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks
This game ended in misery, but Mobley showed his brightest flashes of the season since returning from his latest calf injury. A big scoring night on 4-of-8 three-point shooting should make everyone feel happy. I only wish he hadn’t disappeared in the final few minutes, especially overtime, where he only attempted one field goal at the buzzer.
Grade: B+
Jaylon Tyson
15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Tyson was steady for most of this game. He hit a few momentum-swinging jumpers and was one of Cleveland’s better defensive options. It wasn’t until his errant foul at halfcourt that everything unraveled. Even then, Tyson nailed a huge three-pointer in overtime to keep this game close.
Grade: C+
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Craig Porter Jr.
5 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 turnovers
It’s not easy to have your minutes stripped midway through the season. Porter had earned a place in the rotation before Cleveland’s latest acquisitions at the deadline. But injuries have opened the door again for Porter to see the court — and he’s responded with 21 assists across his last two games.
The limitations are obvious. Porter isn’t a three-point threat or an elite finisher. He had his shot rejected twice in overtime. That hurts.
Grade: B
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
We’ve reached the point of diminishing returns on Tomlin. His inexperience has become more noticeable as the season goes on. Make no mistake, he’s been a massive success story. But his current limitations are starting to show.
Grade: F
Sam Merrill
20 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals
Merrill is a big reason this offense was able to function tonight. His three-point shooting bailed them out of a couple of poor stretches. He even shook Duncan Robinson on a mid-range jumper that unfortunately didn’t count.
Grade: A-
Thomas Bryant
13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Bryant was getting shots up tonight (12 field goal attempts). But the Cavs have needed a backup big man who can deliver games like this. I’m a fan.
Grade: A+
