Donovan Mitchell scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half to highlight the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 133-107 road victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
Cleveland’s Darius Garland chipped in with 20 points and seven assists before leaving with a foot injury late in the third quarter. Evan Mobley added 17 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four blocks for the Cavaliers, who will play at Philadelphia again on Friday.
Joel Embiid paced the Sixers with 20 points, while Paul George notched 17. Philadelphia’s starting guards, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, combined for just 23 points on 8-of-26 shooting.
Cleveland led by 13 points at halftime and went ahead by as many as 21 points in the third quarter. Philadelphia halved that deficit before the visitors rebuilt a comfortable edge with Mitchell doing the bulk of the damage.
Mitchell made a pair of 3-pointers and four free throws in the final four minutes of the third quarter, allowing the Cavaliers to take a 93-75 lead into the fourth.
The Sixers briefly whittled their deficit to 15 early in the final period before Cleveland’s 20-5 run sealed the deal. Jaylon Tyson knocked down three 3-pointers during that game-clinching surge.
The Cavaliers dominated the first quarter, outscoring the Sixers 33-18 behind eight points apiece from Garland and De’Andre Hunter.
Philadelphia led 10-9 early before Cleveland scored 18 of the next 20 points, capped by Hunter’s floater. Shortly thereafter, Hunter’s shot from beyond the arc gave the Cavaliers their largest lead of the first period at 30-14.
Embiid helped bring Philadelphia within six points on two occasions near the end of the first half, but Mobley scored twice and Hunter nailed a 3-pointer to restore a double-digit advantage (60-47) at the break.
Garland led all scorers with 14 points in the first half.
