CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks for a pass during the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Arena on April 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 122-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Cleveland Cavaliers won a statement game against the Atlanta Hawks. All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.Donovan Mitchell31 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 blockThis was a team effort, but Mitchell truly stole the show. His isolation scoring is on par with just about anyone in the NBA. I have to imagine its a hopeless feeling for the defense whenever Mitchell windmills the ball over their head. He had Corey Kispert begging for mercy and none of the other Hawks had any better luck. Grade: A+James Harden21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 stealsHarden struggled to score early despite generating some clean looks. He also had a grating turnover in closing time, where he handed the ball straight to NAW. Harden finished the game shooting 6-23. Other than that, Harden provided a huge surge of scoring in the third quarter and was the orchestrator of Clevelands late-game offense. He helped them earn multiple trips to the free-throw line, closing the deal with his surgical decision-making. Grade: BJarrett Allen16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 stealsAllen looks like hes in pain. That hasnt stopped him from burrowing into the paint and leaving defenders with no choice other than to bear hug him. The Cavs are showing they can work around Allens tendinitis but I hope that other options emerge as the playoffs approach. Ideally, we want February Allen back in the building. Grade: BEvan Mobley22 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocksTalk about dominant. Mobley showed fans what theyve been dreaming about. He eviscerated any defender the Hawks put in front of him. And, made it a non-contest any time the ball was up for grabs. This monster double-double is the type of stuff that will get Mobley, and his team, to the next level. Grade: A+Keon Ellis5 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound, 1 blockI can see Ellis being a great option to slow down players like CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexandar-Walker, and Gabe Vincent. He has the physical tools to match any of them. The goal, however, is actually getting him into those matchups. Ellis wasnt properly utilized in any lineup that featured him alongside Dennis Schroder, Max Strus, and Sam Merrill. The Cavs simply arent big enough to get away with stuff like that. Hopefully, Kenny Atkinson adjusts the rotation and better uses Ellis for his point-of-attack defense. Grade: CMax Strus8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assistsStrus came off the bench as Cleveland opted for Dean Wade in the starting lineup. That worked great for Wade, and not as well for Strus. I actually thought Strus played a fine game. But similar to Ellis, Im not sure if the logjam of backcourt players makes for the most ideal second units. Strus is being stretched thin in some of these lineups. Grade: C+Sam Merrill6 points, 3 assists, 1 stealYou can copy and paste most of what I said for Ellis and Strus here. Merrill isnt benefiting from being in lineups that only feature one player above 65. Merrill shot 2-3 from downtown tonight. Grade: C+Dean Wade8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 blockWade returned to the floor and joined the starters tonight. That dynamic worked to perfection. His size and athleticism made him a versatile defensive weapon to pair with the bigs. He also nailed consecutive three-pointers to start the game and spaced the floor well throughout the night. Grade: A-Dennis Schroder5 points, 3 assists, 1 reboundNot the best. Schroder is most impacted by some of these small-ball lineups. But, he also isnt a great fit next to either Mitchell or Harden. He was a staggering minus-22 in 15 minutes. As a reminder, the Cavs won this game by six. Grade: F