Isaac Okoro Steals The Show In Cavaliers' First Preseason Game

Isaac Okoro led the Cleveland Cavaliers in scoring in their first preseason game of the 2023-24 season.

Fans were excited to see the newest additions to the Cleveland Cavaliers roster make their debut in preseason game number one on Tuesday night. However, the biggest standout was Isaac Okoro who showed he's not ready to give up any of his playing time to the newest Cavs just yet.

Okoro played just over 20 minutes and finished the game with 19 points, three assists, and a couple of rebounds. He also brought his usual defensive intensity to the game as he finished with one steal.

The most impressive part about this performance was the efficiency from the floor.

The guard-forward combo attempted eight shots and only missed two of them. This includes going 2-for-4 from behind the arc. Okoro wrapped up his scoring for the night with a powerful one-handed dunk that got Cleveland's bench on their feet.

The Cavaliers could become one of the deepest teams in the Eastern Conference if Okoro can contribute at this level of efficiency off the bench consistently.

However, consistency has been something Okoro has been working on since he came into the league, so saying that he has finally made the turn feels like a bit of an overreaction.

Feb 8, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) drives to the basket in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe this will finally be the season that he finds comfort and routine in his role off the bench and becomes one of Cleveland's key contributors throughout the year. 

We'll have to wait and see. 

Okoro's 19 points and impressive play weren't enough for the Cavaliers in their preseason opener. The Atlanta Hawks finished with a one-point win over Cleveland as the Cavs couldn't close it out in the final possessions of the game. Trent Forrest hit an and-1 layup, including the foul shot, with 1.6 seconds to play to beat the Cavs 108-107.

The Cavaliers come back to Cleveland for their second preseason game, which will be against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.