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Dante Exum erupts for career-high in offensive outburst against Wolves

Dante Exum sent social media wild on Monday with a new career-high, but fans have ripped into Cleveland’s coach over his baffling decision.

2 min read
January 6, 2020 - 8:33PM
Cleveland Cavaliers' Dante Exum (1) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves' Keita Bates-Diop (31) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Cleveland Cavaliers' Dante Exum (1) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves' Keita Bates-Diop (31) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Dante Exum has proven the grass is greener on the other side as he continues to explode off the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Exum has relished his time in Cleveland after being traded by the Utah Jazz where his time was riddled with injuries and minimal minutes.

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On Monday he stole the limelight and sent social media wild as he took over the Cavs contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Exum once again came off the bench and played 24 minutes in total. After a quiet first half, he put the foot down in the second.

The Wolves held the 18-point advantage, but behind Exum the Cavaliers came roaring back to life.

He was simply unstoppable as he torched the Wolves by dropping 24 points in the second half to reach a new career-high 28-points on a ridiculously efficient 11-13 shooting from the field.

Fans couldn’t get enough of the Aussie star’s devastating offensive display as his teammates lapped up every single shot.

A monster three with over eight minutes to play in the game from Exum put the Cavaliers ahead 97-96, after being down by 25 points.

Then Cavaliers coach Joh Beilein opted to throw starting guard Collin Sexton back into the contest and the Wolves took advantage as they went on to record the comfortable 118-103 victory.

The decision did not sit well with fans watching the game with DAZN’s NBA Global Managing Editor Micah Adams shredding the call.

Exum has now played six games with the Cavaliers and is currently averaging 21.9 points per game after joining the team and becoming a key cog off the bench.

“I took my shots, I was very efficient, and that’s the shots I can do when I get in there,” Exum said after the loss.

“I’ve been practising for a while and definitely the three I’ve (been) working on for a while. Everyone just had a will to win. We saw we weren’t playing too well and we could bring it back.

“I started making shots and everyone felt we could do this. It’s disappointing we couldn’t hang on but it was a good team effort and I feel like we are going in the right direction.”

The Cavaliers are in the middle of serious drama thanks to their marquee player Kevin Love delivering a “verbal outburst” at the team’s general manager.

Footage from the Cavaliers’ Sunday contest showed Love’s frustration appear to boil over with Sexton in one play as he demanded the ball from the youngster.

Fans have pointed the finger at the organisation for giving Sexton too much rope in what has been a miserable season. After Exum was pulled in favour of Sexton, they understand his frustration.

On Monday however, Cavaliers and Exum fans revelled in the offensive outpouring from the Aussie star.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/american-sports/nba/dante-exum-erupts-for-careerhigh-in-offensive-outburst-against-wolves/news-story/be795040b4cdaeb2830b8010f4427331