The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t put their best foot forward, but they still found a way to win 123-118 over the Sacramento Kings. Pretty or not, the Cavs have now won nine of their last 13 games.
All grades
are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
33 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds
Mitchell still isn’t playing his most efficient basketball. Some of that is to be expected with Darius Garland out. And while I could nitpick the way he got his 33 points on 25 shots tonight — he only had 1 turnover — and the Cavs won the game in large part because of his threat as a scorer.
Though I can’t give him higher than a B+ because of his defense. It wasn’t great.
Grade: B+
Evan Mobley
29 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 blocks
This was the type of performance that allows you to let out a deep breath. You aren’t crazy for thinking Mobley is a star, after all. He’s capable of dominating every facet of the game, and the Kings had no answers for him tonight.
Grade: A+
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Jaylon Tyson
17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Opponents are daring Tyson to prove he can handle more offensive responsibility. Blitzing the ball out of Mitchell and challenging Tyson to make them pay. He’s continued to win this bet, making great decisions in the short-roll or attacking closeouts.
Grade: A-
Craig Porter Jr.
5 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds
The Cavalier offense is begging for a three-point shooter. The lack of Sam Merrill, Darius Garland, and Max Strus has exacerbated Porter’s limitations. He shot 1-3 from deep tonight and had a difficult time generating openings as the Kings simply didn’t care to defend him outside of 20 feet.
Grade: D+
De’Andre Hunter
9 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists
I don’t think anyone knows what to do with Hunter right now. He has to find his footing and stop this downward spiral at some point.
Grade: F
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Jarrett Allen
15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Props to Allen for taking the physicality of this game head-on and earning 10 trips to the free-throw line. He had a near double-double and helped Cleveland win the rebounding battle.
Grade: A-
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
4 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 block
A commenter recently asked me to stop grading Tomlin on a curve. I won’t be doing that — but I will give him his lowest grade in quite some time. Tomlin was ignored on offense and totally lost on defense tonight. This wasn’t a good performance, even for a player on a two-way contract.
He avoids the F for his inbounds steal and block on Russell Westbrook’s three-point attempt in the second half.
Grade: D-
Larry Nance Jr.
2 points, 3 rebounds
Junior is back and playing better basketball than before the calf injury. Nothing special, but a servicable 14 minutes off the bench is something this team hasn’t always had in their frontcourt rotation.
Grade: C+
Dean Wade
6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Wade did his job tonight. He’s getting back to himself defensively and shot 2-4 from three. He was a team-high +21.
Grade: A-
