Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers player grades: Larry Nance plays hero

Here are the player grades for the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-91 win over the Indiana Pacers:

Larry Nance Jr.: A+

The last couple weeks have been very encouraging for Nance. He has found ways to make a significant impact even if his box score stats don’t jump out at you. Well tonight the box score stats were exceptional as he put up 15 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, three steals, a block and a game-winning putback at the buzzer.

Matthew Dellavedova: A

There has been a lot of talk about the Cavs players playing their way into a better situation come the trade deadline. With the way Dellavedova has been playing, I could see a team like the Milwaukee Bucks giving up a first-round pick to help solidify their bench.

Rodney Hood: A-

While there were a few errors on both ends for Hood, this was another nice performance for a guy that’s been quietly solid for the last week. The effort on the defensive end was even solid, as he fought through screens throughout the night.

Cedi Osman: B+

The three-point shot hasn’t been there since Osman got hurt, but this was a solid outing for the wing. Osman is still playing a few spots higher than he should be in an ideal rotation, but despite playing 40 minutes he continued to get out in transition, move the ball, while bringing effort on the glass and defensive end.

Alec Burks: B

It often feels as though Burks is playing far better than his box score numbers would indicate. He was relentless in attacking the rim and provided a defensive spark coming off the bench. His grade does receive a slight penalty for 14 points on 16 shots, however it was still a solid game.

Jaron Blossomgame: B

The consistent effort Blossomgame brings to the team has been contagious since the moment he put on a Cavs jersey. While he is raw, his relentless fight on the boards, defensive effort and athleticism may help him stick with the team for the rest of the season. I promise I mean this as a compliment, but he may be the Alonzo Gee of this post LeBron era.

David Nwaba: C+

The offensive game was non-existent, the defense was solid. Not a whole lot more to his game this evening.

Collin Sexton: C+

After struggling with the length of Milwaukee and Philadelphia, how Sexton would deal with Indiana’s defense was interesting to me. While the scoring was similar to the Sixers game, 12 points on 13 shots, it felt like he took better shots and played more within the flow of the game. Would have liked to have seen more than the 1 rebound and zero assists on the night though.

Ante Zizic: C

Cool dunk.

Channing Frye: INC

He didn’t pass to anybody on the bench, but also didn’t do much during his six minutes of playing time.