Jaylon Tyson’s All-Star Night Has Donovan Mitchell, Cavs Make Case for Most Improved Player

Cleveland Cavaliers sophomore swingman Jaylon Tyson gave Evan Mobley the game-winning assist and set a career high with 39 points, leading his humble team to a stunning 117-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Tyson added five rebounds and four dimes in 38 minutes in the team’s second straight road victory over the Sixers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs make his MVP case for him.

“If Jaylon Tyson isn’t in the discussion for, sorry, Most Improved leader, then I don’t know what the award is for,” Donovan Mitchell said after the game. “This is no disrespect to past winners, but I feel like a lot of past winners have been topics (of conversation); they’re expected to be.”

“I promise you, nobody here said Jaylon Tyson was going to have a 39-point night against the Sixers in Philly (without) without DG (Darius Garland), without Sam Merrill. That’s the reward, guys like him in that position where he surprises everybody in its second season.”

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson marveled at Tyson’s night, calling it a “five-star performance.”

“I feel like it was a good team win,” Tyson added after the game. “I don’t want to make this all about me. Obviously, I had a good game, but I feel like everybody played well. … It was a good game, but I’m just glad we won. Celebrate on the plane and go to sleep.”

What would it be? the decisive game of the competitionLonzo Ball found Tyson in the left corner on the inbounds. He drove the baseline of the ball and drew attention, passing the ball on his end to Evan Mobley with enough space for an easy two-handed flush. Mitchell was blown away by the read Tyson made.

“The hit is one thing, but having the presence of mind as a sophomore to not try to quit and be the hero, to go forward and make the right play, that was just as big for me as anything,” Mitchell said. “He could have tried to get 40. He could have (been) around him at this point, but instead, he makes the right play to win us the game. It’s a special mindset. It’s one thing to have a big night, guys have big nights. But in the biggest moment, the biggest situation in a key situation, he goes out and does it.

“I honestly think that last game is the epitome of him. He’s doing all of this and he’s still the same person. This is not somebody who changes. He goes out there and does everything that helps the team. Honestly, we needed him to get his points. Whether it was his role some nights he was in the game, he was in half-board all night, he played half-pan. (or) with 30 points, he did everything we asked and kept a positive mindset and was eager to learn just by I watch him take everyone else out, and it’s great to see.

Mitchell joked that he was running out of things to say about Tyson.

“For me to think, ‘Where’s a second-year guy who’s the 20th pick on a team that’s contending for a playoff championship,’ that should tell you where the confidence level is in the group,” Mitchell said. “For Zoe to think, ‘I’m going to throw it to Jaylon,’ that should show you the respect we have for him in the locker room. That should show you everything. The fact that Kenny puts him in there every night. He does that. I’m really happy for him.”

Mobley ended up being the recipient of Tyson’s unselfish decision and was ready for a rejection.

“Young man, you’d think he’d try to challenge, dunk to finish,” Atkinson said. “The fact that he made Evan a plate speaks to his maturity and how much he’s grown in two years.”

“I think it works,” added De’Andre Hunter. “He’s consistently making the right reads. He’s confident in his game, as we saw (Friday). To have the guts and balls to play like that when you can drive that basketball during that time of the game (instead), I think that speaks to his confidence and how well he’s playing right now.”

Hunter saw “everything” in Year 2 from Tyson, who is averaging 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a steal on a .524/.475/.759 slash line in just over 27 minutes per game.

“What (Mitchell) said, the most improved,” Hunter said. “Since I’ve been here, he’s been one of the best guys on the team. He plays defense. And on offense, he shoots, I think, about 60 percent from 3. He plays really well, and I’m really happy for him.”

Tyson’s nearly 40-point outing came on the heels of a stellar 13-of-17 shooting from the field. He made seven 3-pointers in nine attempts, was perfect on his six free throws. The 23-year-old was often spotted moving around, staying in constant motion throughout the evening. He knocked down open shots, drilled contested ones and, most importantly, made big plays in high-stakes moments.

“I’m recording it,” Tyson said. “From the beginning of the offseason until now, my biggest thing has been, ‘Don’t think, just shoot.’ I found the space, and I shoot with confidence. Dre made some good pieces, JA (Jarrett Allen), Ev, Don, Kwan (Tomlin). Everyone came in and made good plays that helped us win in the end. Hopefully we can just take this and keep putting it together.”

“He pitched a complete game. Everything we needed him to do, he did,” Mobley said. “Knocked down some threes, big plays, got to the rim, assisted. He did everything right. He’s going to be a great player. Just keep working. Games like this definitely boost your confidence, so keep staying in the gym.”

Atkinson was impressed, but marveled at how he guarded Sixers All-Star Tyrese Maxey.

“He would hit a 3 and then pick it up full court,” Atkinson said. “He was great on both ends.”

“To guard Tyrese Maxey for the whole game, two nights in a row, to hold him to two ineffective nights … that’s an All-Star starter,” Mitchell said. “You do that being a second-year player and on the other end, that’s a big deal.”

Meet the “Californias of Jaylon Tyson”, Cavs fans

Seeing consistent double teams early in the game, Mitchell had a message for Tyson, Craig Porter Jr. and Tyrese Proctor.

“I said, ‘Hey, if they’re going to do this, I need you back at Duke, I need you to go to Wichita State, I need you to go to Cal,'” Mitchell said. “That’s what it’s going to be. For those three — Craig had 10 assists, TP came in and made an impact right away, and obviously JT. For those three to take it and do what they did, we’re not going to get this win without those three and also Nae’Kwan.

“To be stars in their college years, to come here and do the little things and then be rewarded on a night like this on national television, that’s what it’s all about. They carry us all season long. I’m grateful. I’m glad they’ve been able to have the success they’ve had and show it to the world. They’re a big part of our group.”

Tyson took Mitchell’s challenge to heart, and the Cavs reaped the rewards.

“I said, ‘OK, if you want to see the California Jaylon, I’ll show you the California Jaylon,'” Tyson said, describing himself in college as getting the bucket, doing a little bit of everything and being aggressive.

“I didn’t even watch it in California, so I don’t really know,” Mobley added. “But I mean, if it’s California Jaylon, we need it all the time.”