1 stud and 1 dud for Cavaliers from win over Hawks on Monday

Cavaliers stud: Cedi Osman

While Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell combined for 55 points and 18 assists, Cedi Osman played a critical role in last night’s win.

Osman’s minutes took a dip at the beginning of this month, and he barely saw the floor in a few games. He even played just seven minutes in last Friday’s double-overtime game against the Charlotte Hornets.

This was an odd move from head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, as Osman proved he was a vital member of the Cavs bench bunch last season.

To Osman’s credit, he stayed ready, and Osman delivered when he was called upon on Sunday night against the Miami Heat.

In 37 minutes of action, Osman scored 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and had a game-high plus-minus rating of +39. His effort was key on Monday after Cleveland was without Caris LeVert due to an ankle injury, too; that is not considered serious, as an aside, though.

In any case, for Monday, Osman was ready to roll last night with LeVert out. Of the four players that came off the Cavaliers bench last night, Osman logged the most minutes (29) and was right behind Garland and Mitchell with 23 points.

More impressively, 10 of Osman’s 23 points came in the fourth quarter, including a stretch where he made two free throws off a clear path foul call and then, on the ensuing possession, hit a corner three to put Cleveland up 110-99 with just over two minutes left.

On a game-by-game basis, players such as Garland, Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen are expected to produce. But what will truly make the Cavaliers a contending team in the East is a legitimate bench, and Osman is a crucial part of that second unit and can definitely provide a spark when his opportunities come.

However, not everyone had their best performance against the Hawks on Monday night.