Cleveland Cavaliers: What jumped out in loss to OKC Thunder

Maybe Jordan Clarkson can evolve as a point guard.

Clarkson played one of his best games in a Cavs’ uniform even though he shot just 29.4 percent from the field. Clarkson showed for the first time this season that he can be a more than capable playmaker when he wants to be, as he finished with eight assists.

Clarkson has been the Cavs most consistent and efficient high-volume scorer on a nightly basis as he’s averaging 15.2 points with an effective field goal percentage of 52.1 percent, per NBA.com. However, he’s basically been a one-trick pony this season, as he’s averaging just 1.5 assists per game and a career low assist percentage of 13.1 percent, per Basketball Reference.

Neither of those numbers are ideal for your backup point guard. As a result, his efficient scoring has done little to jump-start any offense outside his own.

Clarkson showed that he can get others involved in the offense at times in this one, though. He did a great job of distributing the ball and making the extra pass when it was there, which is something he isn’t known for doing.

Clarkson is a skilled scorer, but he needs to be more than that if he’s going to take the next evolution as a player. His performance Wednesday night gives hope that maybe he can take that next step.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will head to Chicago to take on the Bulls Saturday night.