The Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the win column. They knocked down the Portland Trail Blazers behind a monster game from Jarrett Allen.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
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Donovan Mitchell
14 points, 9 assists, 0 rebounds, 2 steals
You rarely see a game flow away from the team’s best player. But Portland clearly didn’t want Mitchell to break free—and Mitchell had no interest in pressing the issue. He drew a crowd and let his teammates do the rest all night.
Grade: B+
Jarrett Allen
40 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks
This was the best game of Allen’s career. Even before he set a new career-high with 40 points, Allen was doing everything you could dream of. Rolling hard to the rim, catching and pirouetting for layups. Dream shaking his defenders out of their shoes. And all the while, cleaning the glass and blocking shots.
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This is the type of performance that gets you a pass for the foreseeable future. Allen has to play a few stinkers before anyone can say anything bad about him again.
Oh, by the way, did I mention this stat line has never been recorded in under 30 minutes before?
Grade: A+++
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Jaylon Tyson
18 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
It would have been easy to miss Tyson tonight. A few of his teammates stole the show. But even though it was quiet, 18 points on 4-4 three-point shooting is the type of stuff I don’t want to take for granted.
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Grade: A+
Sam Merrill
22 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
Merrill did his thing. His barrage of three-pointers gave Cleveland its biggest lead of the night, and he was great at using the space created by Mitchell to punish Portland’s defense.
Grade: A+
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Thomas Bryant
10 points, 1 rebound
Another solid showing from Cleveland’s third-string big. Nothing crazy, but a reliable presence.
Grade: B-
Dean Wade
6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals
Wade was a team-high plus-32 tonight. Being a good defender who can hit a pair of triples goes a long way.
Grade: A-
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
12 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
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I appreciate that Tomlin has never backed away from a scuffle. Sometimes we can overstate the value of mental toughness. At the same time, being fearless is part of the job. It’s something you can’t fake. Tomlin has this in spades.
Grade: B–
Lonzo Ball
3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Ball hit a three-pointer tonight. He was also a minus-10 in a game the Cavs won by 19 points.
So, yeah.
Grade: D+
Craig Porter Jr.
3 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blocks
Porter might record a 5×5 one day. That’s crazy for an undrafted 6’1” guard.
That said, he probably won’t get many opportunities once Darius Garland, Max Strus, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis are available. So let’s give Craig his flowers now.
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I’ve really enjoyed watching Porter dish the ball this season. He has serious limitations as a non-shooter, but man, can he get downhill and sling the rock.
Grade: A+
