King James Gospel
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1 stud, 1 dud from Cavs’ loss to Bucks on Black Friday

By Josh Cornelissen

Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks. Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks. Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images /
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Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images /

1 stud from Cavs’ loss to Bucks: Isaac Okoro

It’s no secret that Isaac Okoro has struggled this season. After two years of proving himself on defense and blowing it on offense, the question coming into this year was whether Okoro could find his shot (and his confidence) or if he would be replaced in the team’s plans moving forward.

Through 19 games this season, Okoro is following the second course; he is averaging only 3.9 points per game and shooting 19.2 percent from 3-point range. He’s getting only token minutes when the Cavs are at full strength. Yet, if there is hope for Okoro, it may have started on Friday night against the Bucks.

For only the second time all season Okoro scored double-digit points, dropping 13 on the Bucks as he played a season-high 31 minutes. With Lamar Stevens, Kevin Love and Caris LeVert missing the game, and Allen playing only 12 minutes, space opened up for Okoro and he took advantage. He shot four 3-pointers, a big number for him, and most impressively he shot 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

In a game that the Cavs lost by 15 points, they played eight players in the regular rotation. All of them had a negative plus/minus except Allen (+4 in 12 minutes) and Okoro. The Cavs outscored the Bucks by three points in his 31+ minutes and were outscored by 18 in the other 16 minutes. An Okoro playing with confidence and attacking the basket could be valuable enough to keep in the rotation, and that is what the team saw on Friday night.