Cavs: 1 stud, 1 dud from a standout win over the Clippers

Cavs: 1 stud from standout win over Clippers – Collin Sexton

Last season Collin Sexton was among the top 20 scorers in the NBA, averaging 24.3 points per game as he took on a significant role as their primary scorer. This year a more egalitarian attack has lessened his shot load significantly, and going into the Clippers’ game he was averaging just 19 points per game.

That average went up as Sexton dropped 26 points on an impressive 12-for-20 shooting night, impressive because the Cavs as a team shot just 40.7 percent, or just 34.4 percent when you take out Sexton’s points. The Clippers smothered the Cavs in the half-court and limited them to 16 fast break points. Here are two of them:

Sexton had his impact in every phase of the game. When the half-court offense bogged down he was there, creating offense by attacking the rim — and the glass. In one insane segment the Cavs got three offensive rebounds in a row, the final one by “Young Bull” who went it home.

He set the tone right away, harrying Eric Bledsoe on the opening possession, stealing the ball, and setting up a Lauri Markkanen shot that missed (more on that later) but which rookie Evan Mobley slammed home. What did he do on the first possession of the second quarter? The offensive rebound off of a Lamar Stevens miss and another dunk. He hustled on every single play, bringing an infectious intensity that held up the entire team. His night wasn’t perfect, as he had five turnovers and just one assist, but he was a team-high +17 and the reason the Cavs won this game.