Isaac Okoro makes strong case for bigger role in Cavaliers’ 105-99 preseason win over Hawks

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Who has the finest backcourt in the Eastern Conference? Cleveland or Atlanta?

That used to be meant to be the headline of Wednesday’s preseason conflict — an early begin to the talk that can rage on all the way through the steady season.

Instead, Isaac Okoro grew to become that query right into a footnote in the Cavaliers’ 105-99 win over the Hawks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. He additionally confirmed why Cavs trainer J.B. Bickerstaff isn’t fairly able to call a gap evening beginning small ahead — even if Caris LeVert has been a camp standout and Bickerstaff stated LeVert has executed the entirety conceivable to earn the task.

Okoro made his first get started of the preseason in position of LeVert, who won a deliberate relaxation evening to let his frame get better from a taxing camp and make allowance others to get a bigger alternative. Okoro capitalized.

In 33 mins, Okoro poured in 16 issues on 7 of 9 from the sector and a pair of of four from 3-point vary. Showing the type of aggressiveness that has oscillated all the way through his first two NBA seasons, Okoro used to be the 1st participant from both group in double figures, outshining his big name teammates — and the pair at the reverse aspect — for lots of the evening.

If no longer for early-game foul hassle (4 in the 1st 17 mins) and a second-half disappearing act (4 issues and 3 shot makes an attempt earlier than fouling out), Okoro may’ve had an excellent bigger evening.

But Okoro did fairly sufficient. His play at each ends, together with a better-looking out of doors shot, will give Bickerstaff one thing to contemplate forward of the regular-season opener on Oct. 19 in Toronto.

Okoro used to be one in all 5 avid gamers in double figures.

Donovan Mitchell — one half of of Cleveland’s All-Star backcourt — completed with a team-high 24 issues on an inefficient 8 of 26 taking pictures and four of 10 from 3-point vary to head with 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 34 mins. Mitchell scored 17 of the ones issues all the way through a bounce-back moment half of after lacking 12 of his first 15 photographs.

Darius Garland — the first-time All-Star closing season — struggled from the sector as neatly, tallying 23 issues on 8 of 21 taking pictures. Garland added 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 31 mins.

Roster hopeful Mamadi Diakite crammed the stat sheet with 13 issues, 11 rebounds, two steals, one lend a hand and a block earlier than fouling out past due in the fourth quarter. Cedi Osman chipped in with 16 issues in 27 mins, burying 4 triples.

Cleveland’s All-Star opposite numbers — Trae Young and Dejounte Murray — had equivalent scoring difficulties because of the Cavs’ higher defensive depth. Murray tallied 17 issues on 7-of-19 taking pictures in 33 mins whilst Young, who went into the evening as statistically the best participant in the preseason, scored simply 14 issues on 3 of 17 from the sector in 34 mins.

Wednesday used to be the Cavs’ first win of the postseason. But it used to be merely a tune-up. These two groups, with some dangerous blood between them after closing 12 months, can be combating one any other all season. Atlanta, which ended the Cavs’ playoff desires in the play-in match, made a vital offseason acquisition as neatly (Murray) and wish to ascend in the Eastern Conference. Beyond that, they’ll even be looking to settle the best-backcourt-in-the-East debate.

Wednesday couldn’t supply any readability on that entrance.

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