Player Grades: Cavs vs. 76ers

A strong second half keeps the Cavs winning streak alive.

The Cleveland Cavaliers found a way to remain unbeaten with a 114-106 win over the reeling Philadelphia 76ers. Cleveland’s 13 straight victories are now the fifth-longest streak to open a season in NBA history.

Each player’s grade is based on our expectations for them.

Donovan Mitchell

23 points, 9-21 from the field, 9 assists, 13 rebounds

Mitchell struggled with his shot early on. He had 10 points on 4-15 shooting in the first three quarters but turned it on down the stretch. Mitchell’s 13 fourth-quarter points, including the three triples he buried in the final three minutes, officially put the Sixers away.

Even though his shot wasn’t going early, he still found a way to make an impact with his playmaking. His 13 rebounds were also much needed on a night the Cavs struggled to clear defensive possessions.

This was a good game even if it did feature one of the most shameless attempts to pick up a 10th assist for a triple-double in recent memory.

Sometimes you need your star to carry you to victory on a night when the rest of the team, aside from Darius Garland, isn’t sharp. That’s what Mitchell was able to do here. — Jackson Flickinger

Grade: A-

Darius Garland

25 points, 10-16 shooting, 6 assists, 5 rebounds

Garland led the way for most of the game while the rest of the Cavaliers struggled to score the ball. It wasn’t a herculean effort — but Garland gave them a consistent dosage to keep his team alive. His 25 points were a team-high.

Having two dynamic guards who can close games is a luxury. Garland didn’t take over in the fourth this time, but he’s been one of the best clutch players in the league this season. — Tony Pesta

Grade: A

Evan Mobley

14 points, 4-8 shooting, 7 rebounds, 1 assists, 4 turnovers

This wasn’t a particularly strong showing for Mobley. He struggled to take care of the ball, didn’t attempt a three-pointer, and had his lowest shot total of the season. Mobley found a way to be on the court for the Cavs’ best basketball as he finished with a team-leading plus/minutes of +17. Even so, this wasn’t his best performance. — JF

Grade: C-

Jarrett Allen

11 points, 5-8 shooting, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

It was a respectable game from Allen after multiple stinkers in a row. He looked more spry than in recent games, opening the night with a thunderous dunk. We would have liked to see more interior defense from Allen but his finishing at the rim provided a nice cushion for the Cavs as they searched for life early in the game. — TP

Grade: B

Isaac Okoro

9 points, 3-6 shooting, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Okoro is still in the starting lineup even though he played just 20 minutes tonight. He gave up some dribble penetration to the rookie Jared McCain (34 points) but other than that, Okro was his usual self. He knocked down three triples, one shy of matching a career-high. — TP

Grade: B-

Caris LeVert

7 points, 2-8 shooting, 3 assists

This was a rare off night for LeVert which is a phrase I didn’t expect to say much coming into the season. He struggled to find his shot and wasn’t impactful as a facilitator. Even though he didn’t have his best stuff, he wasn’t detrimental like we’ve seen in the past. Overall, he was still a positive contributor all things considered. — JF

Grade: C

Ty Jerome

8 points, 3-4 shooting, 2 assists

Jerome was pressing in a way we haven’t seen him do before. He wasn’t letting the game come to him like he’s done throughout the early portion of the season. This included trying to gamble too often to create steals. This led to the team’s worst plus/minus on the evening. — JF

Grade: C-

Dean Wade

6 points, 2-5 shooting, 2 rebounds, 1 assist

Wade was a hero in Chicago as he played the five in a pinch to change the tides of that game. Tonight, he turned in a fine performance even though he wasn’t nearly as impactful.

The Cavaliers have relied on Wade for versatile defense and stationary shooting. He knocked down a pair of threes and held his own on defense. It’s hard to argue with that result even if he didn’t light it up from anywhere. — TP

Grade B-

Georges Niang

8 points, 3-8 shooting, 1 rebound

Niang continues to provide solid minutes when he’s on the court. This is especially so on the offensive side where he’s been allowed to spread his wings more. That said, one board in 16 minutes isn’t ideal for a forward. This drops his grade down some. —JF

Grade B-

Craig Porter Jr.

3 points, 1-1 shooting, 2 assists, 1 rebound

Porter was given a chance to play with Sam Merrill on the sidelines tonight. He still has the same limitations as last year (limited shooter, undersized defender) but Porter put together an average performance tonight. He didn’t stick out one way or another. Since he was perfect from the floor, we’ll give him a positive grade. — TP

Grade C+