Tyler Zeller impresses in Cavs preseason finale, working his way toward starting 5?

Cavaliers rookie forward Tyler Zeller started his first game of the preseason on Tuesday night, as the Cavs fell to the Indiana Pacers, 100-82. However, Zeller played well, contributing 13 points and seven assists over 29 minutes while playing against Pacers' All-Star Roy Hibbert. Head coach Byron Scott, who earlier in the preseason said that Zeller would be unlikely to start at the beginning of the regular season, has since backed off those comments, saying that a starting spot is still up for grabs:

"It lets all these young guys know that there are two spots that are taken: Kyrie and Andy," Scott said. "The other three are still up for grabs. That still is true right now."

Zeller, who played his college ball at North Carolina, limited Hibbert to only four points and five rebounds, and also helped force Hibbert into five turnovers. Tristan Thompson, the player Zeller is competing with for a starting job, had only four points and three rebounds in 17 minutes, picking up five fouls during that time.

The Cavaliers open the regular season on Tuesday at home against the Washington Wizards.