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While many expected the Cavaliers to struggle against the Pistons without their star backcourt. Instead, the Cavaliers went toe to toe with the relentless Pistons, eventually falling to the number one seed in the East 122-119 in overtime.
Winners
The Cavalier Bigs
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Many would think that without James Harden and Donovan Mitchell on the floor, it would be difficult for the bigs to generate the quality looks they’ve enjoyed throughout February. However, this game was decided by Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Thomas Bryant. The trio combined for 61 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 122 points against a stout Detroit Pistons frontcourt defense.
Whether it was Allen leading the team with 25 points, Mobley knocking down 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, or Bryant providing a spark off the bench with 13 points and eight rebounds, Cleveland received outstanding contributions across the board. This is exactly what you hope to see from your All-Stars when your All-NBA-caliber stars are sidelined for the night.
Sam Merrill’s dependability
In the absence of other primary offensive weapons, Sam Merrill continues to prove just how elite a shooter he is in this league. The constant motion he plays with within the offense creates quality looks regardless of who shares the floor with him. Tonight, Merrill went 6-for-12 from the field, and nearly every attempt came off movement that generated clean windows to fire away.
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We even saw Merrill leverage his perimeter gravity to create quality opportunities inside the three-point line. That’s what separates high-level shooters from situational ones — the ability to bend a defense simply by relocating. It’s reassuring to know that Merrill isn’t solely dependent on others to manufacture his looks; he has the skill set and awareness to operate autonomously within virtually any system.
The Cavaliers Energy
The Cavaliers used to be where the Pistons are, a team that hangs its hat on its heart and hustles every night. Nowadays, it looks like that level of effort can come and go in place of nuclear offensive levels. On Friday night, this was an effort reminiscent of the…
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Publish date : 2026-02-28 04:50:00
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