WASHINGTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 of his 48 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers from a 15-point deficit in the final quarter to a 130-126 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
The Cavaliers made 15 of 53 three-pointers and Darius Garland made 0 of 11, but Mitchell tied the score at 122 with a long shot. He then scored in the paint with 60 seconds left to help the Cavaliers maintain the lead.
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With the Cavaliers still leading 124-122, Washington’s Marvin Bagley III missed a rebound, but Mitchell tied him up and forced a jump ball. The 6-foot-11 Bagley is eight inches taller than Mitchell, but both players’ jumps were mistimed and Lonzo Ball got the ball for Cleveland. He made two free throws with 30.9 seconds left in the game.
With 5.9 seconds left in the game, Mitchell’s layup gave the Cavaliers a 6-point lead.
Cleveland took 34 three-pointers in the first half. The Cavaliers didn’t shoot well, but still led 62-60 after two quarters. The third quarter was a bust for Cleveland, with Ball hitting nothing but the glass on a breakaway layup attempt and Nae’Quan Tomlin fouling out with 2:24 left in the quarter. Tomlin accumulated six fouls in just 10 minutes and 05 seconds of playing time.
Washington led by as many as 17 points, leading 100-85 after three-point play.
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Mitchell scored 11 points in just 2 1/2 minutes at the start of the fourth quarter and narrowed the deficit to five points with a three-pointer. With 5 minutes and 16 seconds left in the game, he was awarded a technical foul after a layup and then left the game. But he soon returned and played a decisive role in the game.
Barb Carrington and CJ McCollum each scored 27 points for Washington, and Jameer Watkins also scored a career-high 15 points.
Next
Cavaliers: Host Charlotte on Sunday.
Wizards: vs. Indiana on Sunday.
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Associated Press NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/nba
