Darius Garland

Locked into a 2-2 series tie with his coaches and teammates united in their requests for him to be more aggressive in hunting for his shot, Darius Garland’s response to the challenge, predictably, featured two defining characteristics: an overabundance of speed, and a shortage of defenders capable of containing it. In rhythm from the game’s opening tip and poised to put a demonstrative imprint on the series in Game Five, Garland takes his chance, challenging the Orlando Magic’s defense in transition. Surveying his options with Gary Harris impeding his path and a pair of lengthy defenders quickly closing in, the former All-Star guard selects the perfect move, freezing Harris with a blistering-quick hesitation dribble before maneuvering into the now-vacated path for a smooth, off-hand finish in transition. The Cleveland Cavaliers star overwhelmed the opposition on the way to a 17-point first quarter takeover, planting the seeds for a pivotal, one-point victory in Game Five, providing his team with a 3-2 series advantage on April 30, 2024. Lighting up the scoreboards for his best performance in the series to date, Garland tallied up 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three 3-pointers.