The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t miss Donovan Mitchell much as they got a well-rounded offensive performance from everyone on the team to pick up their 15th straight win to start the season. The victory ties the second-longest winning streak to start a season in NBA history.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Darius Garland
25 points (7-16 shooting), 12 assists, 5 rebounds
Garland continues to show his maturity, closing this game in the absence of his co-star. He took an aggressive approach to putting away the Hornets by repeatedly forcing his way into the paint down the stretch. This was awesome to see after Garland’s struggles at the rim in previous seasons.
The Cavaliers are grateful to have a young star such as Garland who can lead the way when Mitchell needs a breather. This was a masterful performance from DG who has left the nightmares of last season far in the past. — Tony Pesta
Grade: A+
Evan Mobley
23 points (9-12 shooting, 2-3 from three), 11 rebounds, 4 turnovers
It didn’t take long for Mobley to reintegrate himself into the lineup after missing Friday’s game with an illness. He hit a three-pointer early on and just kept building from there. Mobley looked like the aggressive player he had been at the start of the season after a passive showing against the Philadelphia 76ers which makes much more sense now knowing that he was sick.
Mobley initiated the offense, anchored the defense, and was the best player on the floor for long stretches this evening. Those were all much appreciated on a night the Cavs needed something extra given who was out of the lineup. — Jackson Flickinger
Grade: A
Jarrett Allen
21 points (6-7 shooting), 15 rebounds
Charlotte came into this game with a thin frontcourt and Allen took full advantage of it. Kenny Atkinson has repeatedly talked about wanting to see his team be more active on the offensive glass. Allen was as he finished with 4 big offensive rebounds to help Cleveland secure the win. This was combined with getting to the rim at will.
It was the exact performance you want to see from Allen. — JF
Grade: A
Ty Jerome
24 points (9-15 shooting), 8 assists, 2 rebounds
Jerome had big shoes to fill with Mitchell out of the lineup. No one would expect Jerome to carry Mitchell’s usual offensive load — but 24 points and 8 assists is about as close as you can get. Jerome has been a game-changer for this Cavalier team, galvanizing them with big plays in crucial moments. His burst of scoring in the second half helped carry them to the finish line. — TP
Grade: A+
Isaac Okoro
6 points (3-4 shooting), 1 assist, 14 minutes
Okoro left the game after just 14 minutes with an ankle injury. He was the Cavaliers’ most effective perimeter defender and this became clear in the second half once LaMelo Ball began to grow comfortable. Okoro’s defense will be sorely missed if he is out on Tuesday against Boston. — TP
Grade: Incomplete
Caris LeVert
4 points (1-5 shooting), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 fouls
LeVert had a rare off-game. He struggled to get his good looks to fall and wasn’t the dynamic off-the-dribble threat he had been in previous games. That said, LeVert still battled on the glass and was useful on a night the Cavs became even more shorthanded with in-game injuries to Okoro and Dean Wade. — JF
Grade: C-
Dean Wade
3 points (1-2 shooting), 4 rebounds
Wade’s defense remains phenomenal. His ability to guard multiple defensive positions and rebound at a high level is invaluable to this team. But at some point, he needs to be an active participant in the offense. He wasn’t for long stretches in the first half.
Wade exited the game in the third quarter with a left ankle sprain. His and Okoro’s absence contributed to Charlotte’s 40-point third quarter. — JF
Grade: Incomplete
Georges Niang
13 points (5-11 shooting), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 turnovers
Niang was the target of Charlotte’s offense for most of this game. He was easy to exploit in space and he wasn’t able to contribute on the glass against a team that was playing without a center. Add four turnovers to the mix and this sounds like a disastrous game for Niang.
But Niang was immensely helpful on offense. His 13 points off the bench were pivotal in keeping the Cavs in the driver’s seat — especially in the second half. Niang’s three-point shooting remains his most valuable asset. Tonight, he buried three triples. — TP
Grade: C+
Craig Porter Jr.
7 points (2-4 shooting), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals
Porter needs to stuff the stat sheet to be impactful. He’s not a great defender, but he is good at getting blocks and steals. Porter was able to turn defense into offense in the second quarter as he grabbed two steals. One of which led to an easy basket on the other end.
This wasn’t a breakout performance, but it was a step in the right direction for someone who’s struggled to find his place in the rotation recently. — JF
Grade: B