Ty Jerome exploded in the first half with 27 points and ultimately set a personal best by scoring 29 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to a 128-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Jerome, who stepped in for the injured Darius Garland as the starting point guard, showcased an impressive performance with 20 points solely in the second quarter, hitting seven three-pointers before the halftime buzzer. This victory marks the best start in the franchise’s history, now holding a remarkable record of 16-1.
In addition to Jerome’s standout performance, Georges Niang contributed 20 points, while first-round draft choice Jaylon Tyson made a noteworthy debut scoring 16 points, along with grabbing 11 rebounds and providing seven assists. Jarrett Allen also made a significant impact with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
On the Pelicans’ side, rookie Antonio Reeves, who had previously averaged just 2.9 points per game, turned heads by scoring 34 points. Brandon Boston Jr. added 14 points for New Orleans, which is currently facing a multitude of injuries.
Elfrid Payton, recently signed earlier in the day, made his return to the NBA after a long hiatus, playing in his first game since May 15, 2022, with the Phoenix Suns. The 30-year-old was inserted into the starting lineup by coach Willie Green and finished the match with 11 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and four turnovers.
The Cavaliers, recovering from a close loss to the Boston Celtics the night before, controlled the game, leading by as much as 34 points. With Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley being limited to 20 and 18 minutes respectively, Cleveland continued to maintain their unbeaten record at home, having won all nine games played in their arena this season.
A significant turning point occurred in the second quarter when Jerome made three long-range three-pointers within just a 62-second stretch, increasing Cleveland’s lead from single digits to 67-51. Collectively, those three shots traveled a remarkable distance of 101 feet.
An important statistic to note is that New Orleans was missing its top six scorers, who regularly combine for an average of 110.5 points per contest due to injuries. This situation forced the team to call upon all three of its two-way players. Notably, Brandon Ingram missed his first game due to a bilateral ankle sprain.
Next, the Pelicans are set to host the Golden State Warriors on Friday, while the Cavaliers will continue their three-game homestand on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.