Cavs Top 3: Cedi Osman plays well in return, but team falls to Pelicans

The Cavs lost to the Pelicans 116-109 but saw Cedi Osman return to the rotation on Sunday night. Injuries to Collin Sexton and Darius Garland meant the duo were kept out and the Cavs wanted to find someone who could play make and score. So that meant that Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff went to Osman. Osman, who’s been on the bench and not playing for the last few weeks, finally saw action again and played very well in the time given.

Sexton and Garland both sat out due to injuries, forcing the Cavs to rely on Osman and Matthew Dellavedova to play point guard all night. The two combined for 22 points and 17 assists, with Osman putting up 15 points and Dellavedova racking up 10 assists.

The Cavs had good control of the game through most of the first three quarters but foul trouble to Isaiah Hartenstein caused the Cavs to lose their best interior defender and one of their best low-post passers. Hartenstein is going to make it hard for the Cavs to take minutes away from him with how well he’s been playing lately. Jarrette Allen and Hartenstein are going to be a wicked combo.

The Cavs fell to 19-34 on the season, making it more unlikely they make the play-in tournament.

Top 3 Game Performers

1 Point – Isaac Okoro

The rookie forward had a career day scoring the ball, putting up 19 points in the loss to the Pelicans. Okoro also posted three rebounds and three assists, while shooting 6-10 from the floor, 2-4 from three-point, and 5-5 from the free-throw line.

2 Points – Kevin Love

The veteran finally broke 30 minutes tonight, playing for 31. Kevin Love took too many threes, going 6-17 from the floor but just 5-14 from the three-point arc. He did contribute five rebounds and three assists as well. Love finished the night with 19 points.

3 Points –Dean Wade

Like Okoro, Dean Wade posted career numbers tonight in points. The second-year forward shot 8-12 from the floor and 5-8 from three three-point line. He pulled in 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, and three steals. He played well all night, but with the loss of Isaiah Hartenstein, it was hard for Wade and Love to play good interior defense.