Player Grades: Cavs vs Hornets

Allen had a strong two-way game.

Winning never really gets old. The Cleveland Cavaliers notched their second 10-game win streak of the NBA season, defeating the Charlotte Hornets 115-105.

Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

19 points (8-16 shooting), 4 assists, 3 rebounds

It’s become an evergreen statement — but Mitchell hasn’t needed to exert himself for many of Cleveland’s wins this season. He coasted during the first half, only scoring two points before turning up the heat in the third and fourth quarters for 19 points on the night.

Mitchell’s timely contributions have consistently given the Cavaliers a knockout punch on nights like this. He plays his role as a distributor for 20 minutes before slamming his foot on the gas at precisely the right moment to put the game out of reach.

Grade: A

Evan Mobley

17 points (6-13 shooting), 5 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 blocks

Mobley was more impactful than the box score shows. His scoring was effortless, repeatedly bullying his way into the paint for easy layups. He didn’t have a career night from three like in his previous meeting with Charlotte — but he still stripes a confident-looking shot early in the second quarter.

It’s a surprise that Mobley finished this game with only 1 assist. His processing speed in the short-roll was on display all night. He made a handful of impressive touch passes in these scenarios, but I guess it didn’t materialize into much.

Grade: A

Darius Garland

25 points (8-14 shooting), 2 assists

Again, it’s a shock that Garland only recorded 2 assists in this game given his control of the offense. He seemingly made the right play at every turn and his chemistry with Jarrett Allen was as strong as ever.

Nonetheless, Garland left no doubt of his scoring ability. He’s been the epitome of efficiency this season, dicing the Hornets for 25 points on just 14 attempts. His “kiss of death” claimed yet another victim.

Grade: A

Jarrett Allen

19 points (9-10 shooting), 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks

We are giving the “player of the game” award to Allen. He was massively impactful on both ends of the floor, hauling in every rebound within reach and scoring like he was on a kid’s hoop. He connected on his first eight field goal attempts before missing a layup late in the fourth quarter.

Allen provided so much pressure on the rim that Charlotte had no hope of containing him. He showcased some underappreciated footwork, catching on the roll and dancing around his defender for uncontested finishes.

Grade: A+

Dean Wade

6 points (2-4 shooting), 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Wade entered this game shooting 57% from three over his last six games. By that standard, tonight’s 2-4 shooting is actually underwhelming. But if this is who Wade is at this point, then I’m not complaining.

The Cavaliers have enjoyed the best version of Wade for most of the season. He’s a confident three-point shooter who bolsters their defense more than he gets credit for.

Grade: A

Max Strus

9 points (3-9 shooting), 4 assists, 3 rebounds

Last game, Strus dished out 7 assists. Tonight, he poured out another 4 dimes as he was active in this department from the start. He took charge in pick-and-rolls, feeding Allen early in the first half.

Strus has proven he’s much more than a three-point specialist. His connective playmaking has been a luxury that few fans expected when he first joined the Cavaliers.

Grade: B

Caris LeVert

2 points (1-6 shooting), 6 assists, 5 rebounds

It’s been a while since LeVert put up a bad game. That’s something we shouldn’t take for granted. His consistency this season has been a wonderful development.

Unfortunately, LeVert shot just 1-6 tonight. But his 6 assists and 5 rebounds show that even on his poor shooting nights, LeVert is still finding a way to be impactful. He was a positive contributor even if his scoring was absent.

Grade: C

Georges Niang

10 points (4-7 shooting), 3 assists, 2 rebounds

It’s only right we continue to give Niang his flowers. This is the role that was always imagined for him. He played 18 minutes tonight, added a boost to the offense with his three-point shooting and off-ball movement, and clocked out another successful shift.

Grade: A-

Ty Jerome

8 points (3-10 shooting), 5 assists, 2 steals

Jerome was having a better game before garbage time rolled around. His errant three-point attempt from the logo and forced misses at the rim make his field goal percentage look much worse than it should have been.

Nonetheless, there’s a reason Jerome has found himself relegated to garbage time more often. He isn’t the “microwave” scorer he was in November. That’s fine, as he’s still putting together quality minutes off the bench. But it’s time to start adjusting our usual expectations for him. This quiet yet effective performance is what we should hold him to.

Grade: B-