NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and James Harden, who was held scoreless in the first half, scored 20 in the second half to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 111-106 comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.
Cleveland trailed 88-76 entering the final quarter but outscored the Pelicans 35-18 in the fourth quarter, with Harden scoring 13 points in the quarter and Mitchell 12. It was the Cavaliers’ eighth win in their last nine games against New Orleans, which had its seven-game winning streak at home snapped.
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Harden hit three three-pointers and a layup in the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, setting off an 18-7 surge. Max Strus scored a layup, and the Cavaliers took the lead 100-99 forever, setting off a 15-7 surge.
Zion Williams received three fouls early and the offense was quiet in the first half, but he scored 15 of his team-high 25 points in the third quarter. With 2 minutes and 16 seconds left in the third quarter, Williamson scored 11 points and assisted Saddiq Bay to hit a three-pointer from the left corner, setting off a 14-2 surge. The Pelicans led 72-61. Bay finished with 19 points.
The Cavaliers’ defense squeezed Trey Murphy outside the three-point line, and Herb Jones, who is not usually a long-range threat, scored 12 points on 4 of 10 three-pointers in the first half, and New Orleans led 56-53 at halftime.
Cleveland led 31-18 on the back of Mitchell’s nine first-quarter points and 10 assists on 12 field goals, but New Orleans ended the quarter on a 10-0 run.
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Harden scored a team-high 36 points and dished out five assists in the first half in a 115-110 victory over Chicago on Thursday.
Next
Cavaliers: Host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
Pelicans: Play against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
