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Mar 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (2) celebrates after hitting a three point basket during the second half against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers obliterated the Miami Heat in a bounce-back performance from their previous meeting.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
6 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Mitchell played the role of facilitator in this one. He used his gravity as a weapon, drawing multiple defenders and generating open looks for his teammates. Mitchell threw dimes to the bigs and sprayed it out for shooters like Sam Merrill to get rolling.
I know it’s weird to give Mitchell such a positive grade when he shot 1-10 from the floor. But trust me, he was better than the box score suggests.
Grade: B
James Harden
17 points, 14 assists, 5 rebounds
The Heat didn’t have any answers for Harden. He was a menace in isolation, making Norman Powell and Tyler Herro look like rookies. Whether he was scoring or passing, Harden was in full control tonight.
“I think James had 20 potential assists, he just finds the right solution in every situation,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.
Grade: A+
Evan Mobley
23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Mobley scored just 8 points in his previous game against the Heat. He had more than that in the fourth quarter tonight (12 points). It wasn’t an explosive game from Mobley, but he was one part of a symphony that wreaked havoc on Miami all game long.
Grade: A
Jarrett Allen
18 points, 10 rebounds
“The guys kept asking me, when is he [JA] gonna be back? They know how important he is,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.
Well, welcome back, JA.
Allen returned to the floor for the first time since March 3rd to rousing success. He immediately made his impact felt, running the court for alley-oop dunks and impacting Miami’s attempts at the rim. Allen brought new life to a Cavs team that looked half asleep the last time they played.
Grade: A+
Max Strus
29 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist
Cavs fans are familiar with Strus catching fire. But that doesn’t mean it will ever get old. Strus hit his first four three-point attempts on his way to a 22-point first half. There was an audible excitement in Rocket Arena whenever he caught the ball today. That type of energy is infectious.
Extra credit for his aura in the post-game interview. Happy Birthday, Max.
Grade: A+++
Sam Merrill
10 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
Merrill’s enjoying the best season of his career. He’s always been a steady shooter; now he’s added a mid-range and interior game. Merrill drove by Herro for a tough finish at the rim in the first half, showcasing his growth as an all-around player.
Grade: B+
Keon Ellis
10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Ellis wasn’t bothered by Miami’s defense in either of their matchups this week. He scored 17 points in the previous game and started a perfect 3-3 from the floor tonight. His defensive activity feels much more impactful when sharing the floor with Mobley and Allen.
Grade: B+
Dennis Schroder
8 points, 5 assists, 2 steals
Schroder hasn’t totally fit in with the Cavs over the last few weeks. Tonight, he was a welcoming presence as he kept the offense churning through his playmaking in the second unit. Similar to Ellis, Schroder is able to be more impactful as a pest defensively when he has two bigs behind him to cover up any mistakes.
Grade: B
Thomas Bryant
11 points, 4 rebounds
Bryant is back to being the third big in the rotation. That’s good for everyone. He can provide helpful minutes off the bench when needed — and now, we aren’t as worried about diminishing returns.
Grade: B
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