The Cleveland Cavaliers kicked off their new season with a gut-punch that felt way too familiar, echoing that deflating Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks back in May. Seriously, some things just don’t change, and a massive lead evaporating into nothingness is one of them. While Donovan Mitchell put up huge numbers, it was a rough night for the team’s promising young guard, Peyton Watson, who ended up with a clear F grade for his debut.
Hezonja Shines, Mitchell’s Effort Wasted
If there was a single bright spot, a reason to feel even a sliver of hope after this mess, it was Mario Hezonja. The dude came off the bench and looked like he absolutely belonged, dropping 10 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, dishing 2 assists, and swiping 2 steals. His added strength made him a mismatch-beater in the post, forcing Philly to scramble when they switched smaller players onto him. Hezonja is a skilled finisher and a crafty playmaker, making him a fantastic bench option. Defensively, he kept pace with Philly until everything else fell apart, and his isolation defense on Jaylen Brown was a legitimate highlight. Oh, and that “pick-six” steal and score was electric, plus those two surgical post-ups at the end of the third quarter gave us all some life. He earned his B+ grade.
Donovan Mitchell, on the other hand, was a tale of two halves. He was absolutely lights out in the first, scoring 22 points and missing only two shots. His dynamic scoring helped Cleveland build a massive lead that, frankly, should have been enough to coast to victory. It wasn’t. Those five turnovers didn’t help the Cavs hold onto that lead as it slipped away. Still, it’s hard to knock an efficient 32 points and 10 rebounds. He wasn’t the biggest culprit in this meltdown, earning a C+ for his efforts.
Watson’s Debut Flops, Allen Disappears
This was not the debut Peyton Watson wanted, not by a long shot. He finished with 8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and, yikes, 5 turnovers. The biggest concern going into the season, his effect on floor spacing, became a problem right away. Philly started ignoring him in the second half, leaving him wide open and packing the paint. What was Watson’s response? He clanked an open three-pointer and just barreled into traffic, shooting 0-3 from downtown. We can absolutely see his fit defensively, and it’s beautiful, but the team needs way more from him on offense to justify his minutes. That F grade felt generous after this showing.
And let’s not forget Jarrett Allen. He started this game like a house on fire, looking electric with 14 points in the first half that Philly simply couldn’t contain. But then, poof, he vanished. The Cavs themselves seemed to help Philly turn the tide against Allen, who didn’t score a single point in the second half and only attempted one shot. That’s a huge problem when you’re trying to hold onto a massive lead.
This opener is a brutal reminder of how quickly things can unravel in this league. The Cavs showed flashes of what they can be, but the second-half collapse and some glaring offensive issues, especially from Watson, are huge concerns. They need to clean up those turnovers and find a way to keep their big men engaged for a full 48 minutes. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long season trying to dig out of holes they themselves create.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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