CLEVELAND -- Point guard Eric Maynor was largely an afterthought in the 2009 NBA draft, falling to the 20th overall selection by Utah.

If his first two pro starts are any indication, though, no one will be overlooking him again.

Maynor’s coming-out party continued Saturday night when he scored a season-high 24 points and nearly led the Jazz to a road upset of the Cavaliers.

"Eric did a terrific job of getting us into our offense and gave us an opportunity to win," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said after his team fought Cleveland to the final seconds in a 107-103 loss. "When guys get a chance to play, they have the chance to show us what they can do. Eric now has gotten some more minutes and, from what he’s shown, he gives us an option to make a change (in our rotation) if we need to down the road." 

Maynor was the eighth of 10 point guards taken in the first round and did not figure to have this type of early impact stuck behind Deron Williams, who is widely regarded as one of the top three point men in the NBA. 

That was how things initially played out, with Maynor playing 31 minutes in Utah's first eight games - and nearly half of those minutes coming in mop-up duty in Wednesday's loss at Boston. But the former Virginia Commonwealth standout was inserted into the Jazz lineup Friday when Williams took a sudden leave of absence to tend to his ill daughter.

Maynor made the most of that opportunity, collecting 13 points and 11 assists in a 112-90 win at Philadelphia. He became the first Utah player to record a double-double in his initial start since Andrei Kirilenko eight years earlier.

The 6-3, 170-pound jitterbug followed with an even better outing against the Cavaliers, making 9-of-16 shots and 6-of-7 free throws while outplaying All-Star Mo Williams. Maynor even had the courage to scold Kirilenko when he made a mental mistake in the final minute.

"I was just playing basketball, taking what the defense gave me," the rookie explained. "Coach gives everybody freedom to do what you do best, and I think I gave him more confidence in me with the way I played. I know it boosted my confidence."

Maynor also had four assists and nailed a short bank shot with 41 seconds left that gave the Jazz a 101-100 advantage - erasing what was a 16-point deficit - to put himself in position to be the hero.

In Cleveland, however, LeBron James is seldom overshadowed and stole the show from Maynor. "The Chosen One" immediately answered with a three-point play, then added four free throws down the stretch to give the Cavaliers their sixth consecutive win over Utah.

And once the final horn sounded, James headed straight for the rookie to congratulate him on his performance.

"He just told me to keep working and said I’ve got a great coach to learn from," said Maynor, who was visibly star-struck. "That was my first meeting with him, so it was something to have him come over and offer me encouragement like that." 

Maynor is the only Colonial Athletic Association player drafted in the last decade, but basketball junkie James said he had watched him "a lot in college. He’s a really good player."

"That kid Eric Maynor made some tough shots in the lane tonight, so I just wanted to tell him to keep working hard," James continued. "First of all, he’s got a got a great coach, a great leader, in Jerry Sloan. And he’s backing up one of the elite players in our game in D-Williams. He’s a great young point guard and has an opportunity to do some good things for Utah." 

With Williams’ return date unknown, Sloan said he would continue to use Maynor and fellow newcomer Wesley Matthews as his first-string backcourt.

The Jazz also will get back injured forwards Kyle Korver and Matt Harpring, and ailing guards Ronnie Price and C.J. Miles at some point, meaning the clock is ticking for Maynor to show what he can do.

So far, though, so good.

"I’m not interested in moral victories or anything, so all that matters was trying to win tonight," said Maynor, who is averaging 18.5 points, 7.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 38.5 minutes as a starter. "When everybody gets healthy, we’ll see what happens, but I’m not worried because I’m only trying to help the team.

"I am having fun, and that’s what it’s all about." 

Brian Dulik has covered the NBA since 1996 and is a frequent contributor to Pro Basketball News. He can be contacted at brisports@hotmail.com.