Kenny Atkinson predicts Cavs role player to breakout against Raptors
The Cavaliers need more consistency from their bench as series shifts to Toronto.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: Jaylon Tyson #20 and Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the introductions against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a comfortable 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors despite not getting consistent help outside of their star players.
Max Strus’s 24 points in Game 1 account for nearly half of the team’s bench points through the first two games of the series. In Game 2, Cleveland’s bench was outscored 45-19 by the Raptors’ reserves. The lack of bench production hasn’t hurt the Cavaliers so far this series.
But according to head coach Kenny Atkinson, he believes that one player will help turn this around: Jaylon Tyson. “I told him today he’s next up,” Atkinson said after practice on Wednesday. “Max had that big game, core four had their big games.
[Next] it’s going to be Jaylon Tyson. I can almost guarantee that he’s going to have one of those games where he’s converting that offensive rebound, he’s getting into the half roll because they’re playing smaller. ” Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage!