CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 17 points, James Harden added 16 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 112-84 on Thursday night, extending their winning streak to a season-high six games.
The Cavaliers have also won five straight at home and have won 11 of their last 12 games. It was their second straight game and sixth time this season they didn’t trail.
advertise
It’s the start of five games in seven days for Cleveland. At the end of the third quarter, the team led 102-67, and head coach Kenny Atkinson rested the starters for the final 12 minutes.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 14 points and Ochai Agbaji added 13 points as Brooklyn improved to 5-20 since Dec. 29.
Harden and Mitchell were in sync early. Harden received a bad pass from Brooklyn’s Noah Clowney and stole the ball to start the fast break. He passed the ball to Mitchell for an alley-oop and the Cavaliers led 14-3.
Harden made his first six shots, including three 3-pointers. He also added nine assists and five rebounds. Mitchell made 7 of 12 shots.
advertise
At the end of the first quarter, Cleveland led by 18 points. Jarrett Allen scored 10 of his 15 points in the first 12 minutes.
The Cavaliers made 27 of 42 shots in the first half, a season-high 64.2% from the field, and led 70-48 at halftime.
Cleveland took its largest lead of the game and season with 43 points (102-59) late in the third quarter.
Evan Mobley and Dean Wade return to the Cleveland lineup. Mobley, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, missed seven games with a strained left calf but had 10 points and nine rebounds. Wade missed three games with a sprained left ankle and scored 10 points, including a three-pointer.
Next
Nets: At Oklahoma City on Friday night.
Cavaliers: At Charlotte on Friday night.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
