Caris LeVert Sets Cavaliers, NBA History Despite Loss

The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t recreate their fourth-quarter magic on Wednesday evening and fell to the Chicago Bulls in a double-overtime contest. There are conversations to be had about what went wrong for the Cavs in this one, but we also have to highlight what was going well for the team.

One of those positives was Caris LeVert who arguably had his best game of the season in Chicago.

LeVert finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, 15 assists, two steals, and two blocks. He was doing a little bit. Those 15 assists are a new career high for the Cavs guard.

LeVert is the first player since the NBA started tracking blocks and steals to have a stat line of this level while coming off the bench, via @CavsNotes on X. That wasn’t the only history the Six Man of the Year candidate made on Wednesday night. LeVert also cemented his name in Cavaliers history books.

He tied a Cavaliers record for most assists off the bench. The last player to record 15 assists as a reserve was Bobby Washington on February 9, 1971, against the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeVert may not be known as a pass-first guard, but there’s more to that than being a playmaker. He spoke about this after the game.

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“I’m just trying to move the ball,” said LeVert. “I know I have a really quick first step to get into the paint. For me, it’s all about just making the right first decision. I know we have a lot of guys that can make shots, so I just try to make the right decision.”

It was a big game for LeVert and a great sign for Cleveland’s reserves that they are emerging from their tough stretch. However, it’s unfortunate they couldn’t come away with a win.