CLEVELAND โ After a prolonged wait of five years, Ty Jerome finally had his moment to shine in the NBA playoffs, and he seized it with vigor on Sunday night.
Jerome proved pivotal in steering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a commanding 121-100 victory against the Miami Heat during the opening match of the Eastern Conference first-round series. His performance was particularly notable in the fourth quarter, where he scored an impressive 16 of his 28 total points.
Reflecting on the triumphant game, Jerome succinctly described the victory as โSolid. Solid Game 1.โ His remarkable performance marked him as having the third-highest score in a Cavaliers playoff debut, following the legendary duo of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
Although Coach Kenny Atkinson did not foresee such a debut from Jerome, he acknowledged his consistent performance throughout the season, stating, โI should have expected it because heโs kind of done it all year.โ Jerome accomplished a rare feat in the franchiseโs history, joining the ranks of players who scored at least 28 points off the bench.
Jeromeโs breakthrough season continued with this game. Standing at 6-foot-5, the guard played a crucial role in leading the University of Virginia to the NCAA championship in 2019. Now in his sixth NBA season, he overcame obstacles from a previous right ankle injury that had limited his appearances to just two games last season. This regular season, Jerome appeared in 70 games, marking a personal best, and averaged a career-high 12.5 points. He was also recognized as a finalist for the NBAโs Sixth Man of the Year award.
Reflecting on his journey, Jerome shared insights into his mindset for the season. โYour backโs kind of against the wall. I didnโt really have a huge body of work in the NBA, and you kind of have one last shot in a way to make it right,โ he explained. The time away from the court allowed him to engage in reflection and mental conditioning, boosting his confidence and aggression on the court.
While Jerome is typically recognized as an influential presence on the Cavaliersโ bench, it was his sharpshooting that stole the spotlight during Sundayโs match. He delivered a stellar performance by making 10 of his 15 field-goal attempts, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc, and contributed with five rebounds and three assists over 28 minutes.
Jeromeโs exemplary shooting streak in the fourth quarter, especially when he hit 6 out of 7 field goals and sank all three of his three-point attempts, generated significant buzz on social media. Yet, for his teammates, this extraordinary performance was no surprise.
โThis is who heโs been,โ said Donovan Mitchell, recalling his long friendship with Jerome that dates back to their early basketball days at age eight in New York. โItโs full circle to come back from being eight years old to my first basketball teammate to now here we are. I know everybodyโs gonna react like this is a shock, but heโs been doing this for us all year.โ
Coach Atkinson highlighted a key moment that underscored Jeromeโs influence on the game: a smart drive and pass to Jarrett Allen for a layup, extending the Cavaliersโ lead to 104-90 with 5:47 remaining.
โHe got downhill and made that lefty pocket pass to (Allen) for the layup,โ Atkinson reflected. โThey went zone and he kind of shot them out of the zone, hitting two 3-pointers. He did it all tonight, and then defensively smart in the right position. He turned the game for us.โ