RADIO
Donovan Mitchell Struggles at the Line Saturday
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell recorded 23 points, one rebound, four assists, three steals, and three three-pointers in Saturday's 121-108 Game 3 loss to the New York Knicks. The 29-year-old shot 9-for-21 from the field, but his 2-for-6 night at the foul line hurt an already thin margin for Cleveland. Mitchell still gave fantasy managers points, threes, and steals, although the lack of rebounding and modest assist total capped the line. With the Cavaliers down 3-0, he should carry another heavy scoring burden in Monday's elimination game.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
James Harden Held to Two Assists Thursday
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden tallied 18 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three three-pointers in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks. The 36-year-old shot 6-for-15 from the field and 3-for-3 at the line, but his low assist total was a problem on a night when Cleveland's offense stalled badly. The Cavaliers shot only 38.8 percent overall and 9-for-35 from three-point range, falling into a 2-0 series hole. Harden can still supply scoring and steals, but Cleveland needs more playmaking from him in Game 3.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Donovan Mitchell Leads Cavaliers in Scoring in Game 2 Defeat
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell paced his team with 26 points in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks, sinking 8-of-9 at the free-throw line on a night the Cavs converted just 68.8 percent there as a group. The four-time All-Star shot 8-for-18 from the field with two threes, four rebounds, one assist, and one block, and his floater briefly cut the deficit to eight before an 18-0 Knicks third-quarter run buried Cleveland. "I thought our process was right tonight, so that gives me confidence going home," coach Kenny Atkinson said. Mitchell's volume and free-throw access keep his fantasy floor high regardless of efficiency, and a return to Rocket Arena down 2-0 sets up a likely usage spike. He poured in 48 points in a similar spot a year ago, so the ceiling for a Game 3 outburst is real.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
James Harden Struggles in Eastern Conference Finals Opener
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden had a tough time on the floor in Tuesday's 114-105 Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks. His offensive contribution was limited to 15 points and three assists with a 5-for-16 record from the field. The Knicks also exploited Harden on defense late in the game, with Jalen Brunson leading his team to the largest playoff comeback in franchise history. Harden, who went 1-for-8 with the three-ball, completed his line with four rebounds, one steal, one block, and six turnovers. While the biggest talking point after Game 1 is Harden's defense, he has also been off his game offensively, scoring just 24 points with a 7-for-26 effort from the field across the last two games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Donovan Mitchell Produces Top Two-Way Performance in Game 1 Loss
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell made a big impact on both ends in Tuesday's 115-104 overtime loss to the New York Knicks, leading his team with 29 points and six steals. He also grabbed five rebounds, delivered three assists, and blocked one shot, while going 12-for-23 from the field and 4-for-11 from downtown. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Mitchell didn't have much juice left for the latter stages of the game as the team blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead. The star guard scored just three points after the third quarter. On a positive note, Mitchell has heated up since the start of the last round, and this is unlikely to remain his best outing of the series. In his last eight games, Mitchell has posted averages of 28.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Sam Merrill Catches Fire in Game 7 Win
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill recorded 23 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons. He shot 7-for-10 from the field, 5-for-8 from deep, and 4-for-4 at the line in 25 minutes while scoring 15 points before halftime. Merrill had totaled 29 points across the previous four games of the series, so this was a timely eruption. His fantasy appeal remains tied to three-point production, but nights like this show how quickly he can swing a matchup when the shooting volume spikes.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Donovan Mitchell Guides Cavaliers Into East Finals
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell finished Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons with 26 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one steal, one block, and two three-pointers. The 29-year-old shot 10-for-22 from the field and 4-for-6 at the line while collecting a game-high eight assists, helping Cleveland secure its first Eastern Conference finals berth since 2018. Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists during the regular season, and this balanced closeout line showed how much fantasy value he can carry even when the scoring stays below his usual ceiling. Cleveland opens the next round Tuesday in New York.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Max Strus Replaces Dean Wade in Starting Lineup Sunday
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus will start Sunday's Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has decided to tweak his starting unit for this crucial clash, replacing Dean Wade with Strus. Wade has been very quiet throughout the series and finished scoreless in Games 4 and 5. Strus also started a pair of games during the first-round series against Toronto. He's averaging 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds with 38.2% three-point efficiency in the playoffs. A starting role makes Strus a more attractive DFS option on Sunday.
Source: Cleveland Cavaliers
Source: Cleveland Cavaliers
Max Strus Notches 20 Points With Six Triples
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus sparked into life with a 20-point effort in Wednesday's 117-113 overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons, finishing 6-for-8 from outside. Strus didn't have a single two-point attempt, adding two points to his tally at the free-throw line. He was Cleveland's third-highest scorer and among the best rebounders. Strus grabbed eight boards and made his presence felt on the defensive end with one steal and one block. Across the previous three games, Strus had managed only 15 points. His offensive production is a bonus for the Cavaliers, who will look to wrap up the second-round series at home on Friday night.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
James Harden Leads the Way for Cavaliers in Game 5 Victory
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden led his team to a 117-113 overtime victory in Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. He scored a team-high 30 points with an 8-for-21 effort from the field, adding eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, and three blocks. Harden was 3-for-10 from downtown and 11-for-14 at the charity stripe. The former MVP struggled with efficiency and committed six turnovers, but he made a big mark in the contest. It was only his third 30-point game as a Cavalier. Cleveland has come back from a 2-0 series deficit and can advance to the Conference Finals on Friday night. Harden is averaging 21.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.4 steals in the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
James Harden Records 40th Postseason Double-Double
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden logged his 40th postseason double-double in Monday's 113-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons, scoring 24 points and handing out 11 assists. He also made a significant impact defensively, recording three steals and one block. Harden notched 15 of his points in the first half. The former MVP let Donovan Mitchell take over the offense after the break -- Mitchell tied an all-time postseason record with 39 second-half points. While Harden posted a strong line, he went only 5-for-14 from the field, missing all five two-point attempts. The Pistons have disrupted Harden's offensive rhythm, limiting him to a 39.3 field-goal percentage. Still, Harden has made big plays in recent games and remains vital to Cleveland's success.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Donovan Mitchell Ties NBA Playoff Record With 39 Second-Half Points
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell led his team to a series-tying 112-103 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday, scoring 43 points with a 13-for-26 effort from the field. Detroit limited Mitchell to just four first-half points before he ran amok in the second half. With 39 points, Mitchell tied the NBA record for most second-half points. He went 13-for-15 at the charity stripe, but one of Mitchell's misses came late in the game when he had a chance to break the record set by Eric Floyd in 1987. Mitchell, who finished 4-for-12 from downtown, added five rebounds, two assists, and one steal to his line. After a quiet spell in the playoffs, Mitchell has averaged 36.3 points over his last three games. He'll look to stay hot in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
