The Cavaliers got the win in their home opener against the Brooklyn Nets, but it came with plenty of late-game stress. Cleveland never fully cruised, and the closing stretch turned into a possession-by-possession grind.
Jarrett Allen was the steady force that kept it from slipping away. He finished with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block, going 7-for-8 from the field in what amounted to a textbook Jarrett Allen night: efficient, physical and easy to overlook if you’re not paying close attention. He was active around the rim all game, and Kenny Atkinson made sure to point it out afterward: “I don’t know how many plays he made at the rim tonight that saved us,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.
Evan Mobley also put together a strong performance, even if a few missed chances at the rim kept him from stealing the spotlight. He scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks, while knocking down 2 of his 3 attempts from deep.
His aggression helped Cleveland, and the floor opened up when he was willing to be assertive. Still, a couple of awkward possessions late made Allen the safer pick for player of the game.
Donovan Mitchell chipped in 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, though his night lacked the same burst he showed in the first half against Philly. Instead of taking over in one big wave, his impact was spread more evenly across the game.
He’s still trying to work through pressure rather than attack it head-on, and the old habits are still there. Mitchell also committed 4 turnovers.
James Harden had a rough shooting night, finishing with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists while going 1-for-8 from the floor. Even so, he still found a way to generate points at the line, including a four-point play that accounted for his only make of the first half. He also turned the ball over 4 times.
The supporting cast brought mixed results. Peyton Watson scored 11 points with 3 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block, and his fit in the starting group is still a work in progress.
He did help himself by hitting two threes in the first half, but he also committed an offensive foul late that nearly swung the game. Jaylon Tyson gave the bench a lift with 15 points, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 4 turnovers, even if his jumper was up and down.
He airballed multiple threes before still finishing 3-for-7 from deep, and his chemistry with Hezonja is starting to show.
Mario Hezonja added 9 points, 5 rebounds, an assist and a steal, and his blend of size, passing, spacing and interior scoring has translated quickly. The problem was possession control: he had 4 turnovers, and Cleveland combined for 8 turnovers between Hezonja and Tyson. That’s too many giveaways for a team trying to manage tight games.
Sam Merrill had a quiet night by his standards, scoring 7 points with 3 assists and 2 rebounds. He went 10 minutes before even taking a shot, which is unusual for Money Merrill, though his first look still came out pure from the corner.
Craig Porter Jr. provided 3 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist, but the Cavaliers are still searching for a reliable backup ball handler off the bench. Tyrese Proctor offered a small bright spot, posting 5 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal in what was his best game of the 2026-27 campaign, preseason included.
In Other News...
LeBron Nearly Returned To Cleveland And Cavs Fans Will Hate Why
LeBron James has made it clear Cleveland was more than a passing thought during free agency, and the possibility naturally lingered over a fan base that has already lived through multiple chapters of his career. Bill Simmons and Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson both added to that picture, saying the sides believed a reunion was coming before the move ultimately went another direction, leaving plenty of room for second-guessing around what might have been.
For Cavaliers fans, the frustrating part is not just that James was in the mix, but that Cleveland was seriously part of the conversation as he weighed where to finish his career. James acknowledged as much, though he stopped short of laying out the details of how the decision turned. For a team still tied to his legacy, the revelation only sharpens the feeling that this one was close. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Already Face A Tough Early Test They Can't Afford To Flunk
The Cavaliers opened the season with a loss in Philadelphia, and the way it happened is the part that will stick with them. Cleveland built a 29-point lead before the Sixers turned up the pressure, forced the issue physically and dragged the game back into doubt, a collapse Kenny Atkinson said his team simply did not handle well.
That kind of lesson travels quickly in the standings, and it gives Cleveland an early reference point as the schedule moves on. The Nets are already coming off an opener of their own, and the teams around them are showing how much can still be decided by defense and poise this early, with Toronto even finding ways to win while its shot-making and ball security lagged. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Opens Up On What Could Fuel Clevelands Next Step
Donovan Mitchells latest comments around his contract situation offered another reminder of how central he has become to Clevelands present and future. After helping push the Cavaliers into the Eastern Conference Finals, Mitchell reflected on the disappointment of coming up short there, but also on the work he has done to handle the pressure that comes with the postseason stage. He pointed to mental performance coaching as part of that process, and he also credited the stability in his personal life, including the support of his family and his marriage to Coco Jones.
For the Cavaliers, the bigger takeaway is the way Mitchell continues to frame his time in Cleveland as something still being built rather than something nearing a finish. He said he intends to stay put and chase a title with this group, which matters as the team tries to turn a deep playoff run into the start of something more lasting. The next step, as always, will come down to whether that conviction can translate into the kind of postseason growth Cleveland has been seeking. [Read more 🡒]