Cleveland Cavaliers starter grades for blowout win over Detroit Pistons

In a game defined by runs, if you're not first to the jump, chances are you'll always finish last.

The Cleveland Cavaliers kept up their recent hot streak with a 116-95 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. Led by the efforts of the starting five, the Cavs pushed ahead in the Motor City matchup until they finished a one-sided race a country mile ahead of the Pistons.

Cleveland sped away with a victory early on after staying neck-and-neck with Detroit, which was building up a short hot streak of its own with victories over the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics. The Cavs will move on to face Boston before returning to Rocket Arena for a three-game home stand, which will include their first taste of NBA Cup action in a Group A matchup against the Toronto Raptors.

Donovan Mitchell: A

Mitchell used his shiftiness and creativity to keep up his masterful scoring start with 35 points on a season-high 72.2% from the floor.

He proved to be a menace when driving to the hoop, but added on two three-pointers, including one off a heat-check crossover after making four shots in a row. The six-time All-Star added one rebound and two assists while hitting seven of his eight tries from the free throw line.

Evan Mobley: A

Mobley, who is nearing full bloom as a star for the Cavs, earned a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double in about 30 minutes of play. While he continued his short cold spell from the three-point line, he stayed consistent with shorter-range jumpers and tries from the paint.

The 24-year-old tacked on five assists and deflected three shots, including two against a six-year Piston in Isaiah Stewart.