Dante Exum scored a career-high 28 points coming off the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers in Sunday’s 118-103 loss to Minnesota.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost on Sunday, but that is not the story here. It is about Dante Exum. Exum came to Cleveland in late-December after the Cavaliers sent Jordan Clarkson to Utah. It has been a tough career for Exum thus far, Uninspiring play and injuries have left many to give him the bust label. Even though the label may still be there, Exum went off for the Cavaliers on Sunday.
Dante Exum had all of four points at the end of the first half, relatively similar to what is expected of him. Everything changed in the second half. Exum entered with 8:40 left in the 3rd and was so-so to start. At one point Cleveland was down 90-65 with 4:01 left in the quarter. Shortly after, Exum went to work.
Dante Exum helped engineered a comeback that eventually saw Cleveland briefly take a 97-96 lead over the Timberwolves. Exum finished with 28 points on 11-13 from the field, making all four attempts from three-point range. Unfortunately for Exum and the Cavaliers, nobody else was consistent enough to keep the comeback going. The Timberwolves were able to pull ahead for a 15-point victory.
Cleveland was without Larry Nance Jr., Kevin Love and Tritstan Thompson for this game. A potentially serious injury to Kevin Porter Jr. also hampered the Cavaliers efforts. What this did mean is more minutes for Exum to play. Exum’s 24 minutes was his season-high. This performance should lead the Cavaliers to giving him more of an extended look. A chance for redemption in what has been a disappointing start to his career. Perhaps Dante Exum could be a key piece for the Cavaliers off the bench moving forward. Only time will tell.
