Player Grades: Cavs at Pacers Game 3
Cavs fight back and steal Game 3.
The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their season with a statement win in Indiana. The series now faces a pivotal Game 4 before heading back to Cleveland. Let’s recap the performances that got us here.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
43 points (14-29 shooting), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal
Mitchell has scored 40+ points in consecutive games of this series. To say he’s been heroic would be an understatement.
But while his previous scoring explosion was in vain — tonight’s was different for a very specific reason.
Mitchell didn’t have to do it all on his own. He was surrounded by the supporting cast that helped win 64 games during the regular season. As a result, his approach to this game was more methodical. Mitchell was patient in his attack, scoring in occasional bursts rather than slamming the gas for 40 minutes.
He was also more active on the offensive glass. Mitchell was able to crash for rebounds as opposed to taking every shot upon himself. This led to 5 offensive rebounds as the Cavs crushed Indiana on the boards.
This was a brilliant display from Mitchell and another legendary entry in his postseason career.
Grade: A+++
Darius Garland
10 points (3-11 shooting), 3 assists, 1 rebound
Garland’s return was much more than his on-court production. Simply being on the floor was enough to elevate Cleveland’s offense from where it was. Another elite floor general who can dictate the pace of the game and create cracks in the defense led to a smoother approach from the Cavs.
It’s clear Garland isn't playing at 100% health. He hardly looked more than 50% of himself by the end of the game. But the threat he posed to Indiana’s defense tonight was meaningful, even if the box score doesn’t reflect it.
DG is getting a higher grade considering the circumstances. The team needed him badly.
Grade: B-
Jarrett Allen
19 points (6-11 shooting), 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks
Allen has become an interior force that Indiana hasn’t been able to answer. He’s dominating the glass, as evident in his 12 rebounds (4 offensive). He was putting a lid on one basket while rolling to the rim for dunks on the other. This was a stellar two-way game that resulted in Allen finishing with a team-high +38.
Grade: A+++
Evan Mobley
18 points (6-13 shooting), 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks
Mobley returned to the floor after missing Game 2 with an ankle injury. If this was limiting him, we couldn’t tell. Mobley was dominant from start to finish (excusing a few butter-finger plays to start the game). His game-high 13 rebounds (5 offensive) paved the way for Cleveland to dominate the possession battle. A trio of steals and blocks helped, as well.
The Cavs relied on Mobley to score in the paint. He also nailed a three-pointer and worked his way to the free throw line for six attempts. All of this, while being a one-man wrecking crew defensively, helped Cleveland get back into the series.
Grade: A+++
Ty Jerome
2 points (1-8 shooting), 1 rebound, 3 turnovers
This hasn’t been a good series for Jerome. He’s rushing the process and not playing within the natural flow of the game. The Cavs need him to figure out whatever he’s going through right now.
Grade: F
Sam Merrill
3 points (1-5 shooting), 2 assists, 1 rebound
Merrill was a necessity in this game. With Jerome being unplayable and Cleveland needing to keep up the pace offensively — Merrill was able to give them some spacing without hurting the defense.
He wasn’t great. A few more three-pointers would have made this win even more comfortable. But it is what it is. Merrill was a +18 in 20 minutes.
Grade: C-
Max Strus
20 points (8-12 shooting), 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block
Strus has almost gone under the radar so far. He’s been incredible in back-to-back games in which the Cavs have called upon him to step up. 20 points and 7 assists from a guy who serves a complementary role is hard to overcome for an opponent. Strus hit all of the big shots and operated at a high level tonight.
Grade: A+++
De’Andre Hunter
8 points (2-6 shooting), 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Hunter wasn’t super effective in his first game back from a dislocated thumb. It’s hard to gauge if his misses tonight were a result of his injury or if he simply missed a few shots.
All in all, it was good to have him on the floor. He pushed his way to the free throw line and helped tremendously as a defender in Cleveland’s zone.
Grade: B+
Dean Wade
0 points (0-2 shooting), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
You know what I usually say. Wade didn’t score but he helped on defense. That was true again today. No surprises here.