On Monday evening, the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 3-1 on the young 2025 NBA season with a road win over the Detroit Pistons. It was an impressive performance from Cleveland over a likely playoff team in the East, dominating the game essentially from the jump and picking up their third straight win after a season-opening loss to the New York Knicks.
It was a well-rounded game from De’Andre Hunter, who scored 13 points to go along with six assists and five rebounds. The six assists was actually a career high for the former number four overall pick, and one person who couldn’t believe that fact was none other than Hunter’s own teammate, Donovan Mitchell.
“No way. Dre! 6 assists is your career high?” wondered Mitchell in the postgame locker room.
“That s*** wasn’t a joke,” said Hunter.
D*** he don’t pass,” replied Mitchell (via @hoodigarland on X, formerly Twitter).
Hunter was never known as much of a facilitator during his time with the Atlanta Hawks, before being traded to Cleveland at the deadline a year ago. Perhaps playing within a system more built around ball and player movement has allowed him to come into his own as a playmaker for his teammates.
An impressive Cavs team
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Making matters more impressive for the Cavs to start the season is the fact that the team is still dealing with multiple key injuries, including point guard Darius Garland and shooting guard Max Strus, each of whom are missing the opening chunk of the season with various ailments.
Mitchell has done a nice job of steering the ship from the point guard position, and also has gotten some great contributions from big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Overall, the Cavs are hoping that this is the year they’ll be able to put some of their playoff demons behind them and make a real run at an NBA championship for the first time in the post-LeBron James era after knocking on the door the past few years.
The Cavs will next take the floor on Wednesday against the Boston Celtics.
