Mitchell scores 30 points as the Cavaliers snap a 3-game skid, beating the Knicks 95-89
NEW YORK (AP) Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a three-game skid with a 95-89 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
Caris LeVert scored 19 and Eric Mobley added 14 for Cleveland, which was again missing starters Darius Garland (strained hamstring), center Jarrett Allen (ankle bone bruise) and backup guard Ty Jerome (sprained ankle) with injuries.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. Immanuel Quickley scored 18, Donte DiVincenzo had 16 and Mitchell Robinson finished with 16 rebounds.
New York was without RJ Barrett, who sat with a sore left knee. Julius Randle’s offense was also missing, as he finished with six points on 3-for-15 shooting from the field and 0-for-6 sniping from long distance.
“Their defense was tough. It was a defensive game,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We needed more easy baskets and we didn’t get those. You gotta find a way to win. That is the bottom line.”
The Knicks led 50-49 at halftime before the Cavaliers opened the third quarter with a 13-5 run and never relinquished the lead. Cleveland took an eight-point lead at 69-61 on Dean Wade’s 3-pointer with 55 seconds remaining in the quarter.
The Knicks were held to 13 points in the period and the Cavaliers carried a 71-63 lead into the fourth.
“We haven’t been defending the way we are capable of defending so far this year,” Cavaliers’ coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We challenge our guys to go out and defend and play Cavaliers basketball. That’s what I’m proud of. We showed our true grit.”
Wade hit another 3-pointer that gave Cleveland its biggest lead of the game at 77-68 with 9:10 remaining.
The Knicks closed within two points, 79-77, on Robinson’s free throw with 2:48 remaining. But Mitchell followed with a 3-pointer and a floater on the Cavalier’s next two possessions.
“I just needed to make a damn shot. I work for the moments like that,” Mitchell said. “I was a little tired, but my teammates count on me when it matters most. Sometimes you just gotta go out there and find a way to win. That’s what I pride myself on.”
The Knicks, who were held to 34.8% shooting (32 of 92) from the field and 16.7% (5 of 30) from 3-point range, never got closer than five points the rest of the way.
The Cavaliers scored the first five points of the game and the Knicks scored the next nine.
Mitchell had 13 points in the opening quarter, but the rest of the team scored only 11 as Cleveland led 24-22 after the first.
The Knicks took their biggest lead of the first half, 33-28, on Josh Hart’s basket with 9:21 remaining in the second quarter. Hart finished with 11 points.
“That’s who number 45 is,” Bickerstaff said of Mitchell. “He can create at the end of games. He has the courage to take big shots and make big shots. When you have a lead and you have 45 on your team, you always have a chance to win it.”
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: At Indiana Pacers on Friday.
Knicks: At Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Evan Mobley vs. Mitchell Robinson (Georges Niang gains possession) | ||
| 11:47 |  | Donovan Mitchell turnover (bad pass) (Quentin Grimes steals) | ||
| 11:32 | | Julius Randle offensive foul (Charge) (Georges Niang draws the foul) | ||
| 11:32 | | Julius Randle turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 11:24 | | Evan Mobley offensive foul (Charge) (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 11:24 | | Evan Mobley turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 11:11 | | Quentin Grimes misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:09 | | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | ||
| 11:01 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving finger roll layup (Isaac Okoro assists) | 2-0 |
| 10:39 | | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:37 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Evan Mobley assists) | 5-0 |
| 10:12 | | Quentin Grimes misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:10 | | Josh Hart offensive rebound | ||
| 10:04 | | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:02 | | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | ||
| 9:55 | | Mitchell Robinson blocks Evan Mobley's two point dunk | ||
| 9:53 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 9:48 | | +2 | Quentin Grimes makes two point driving finger roll layup (Josh Hart assists) | 5-2 |
| 9:33 | | Isaac Okoro misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:31 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:20 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:18 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 9:14 | | Max Strus misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 9:12 | | Quentin Grimes defensive rebound | ||
| 9:07 | | Georges Niang personal foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 9:02 | | Evan Mobley blocks Mitchell Robinson's two point dunk | ||
| 9:00 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 8:57 | | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point putback dunk | 5-4 |
| 8:41 | | Max Strus misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:39 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 8:37 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:35 | | Quentin Grimes defensive rebound | ||
| 8:23 | | Cavaliers technical foul (Defensive three second) | ||
| 8:23 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 5-5 |
| 8:15 | | Georges Niang personal foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 8:05 | | Jalen Brunson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:43 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 7:41 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:34 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 7:32 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 7:32 | | Mitchell Robinson misses two point tip dunk | ||
| 7:30 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 7:30 | | Max Strus turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 7:07 | | Josh Hart misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 7:04 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 6:56 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:54 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 6:54 | | Isaac Okoro personal foul (Loose ball) (Mitchell Robinson draws the foul) | ||
| 6:54 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:44 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 5-7 |
| 6:25 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:23 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:07 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 5-9 |
| 5:48 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point stepback jump shot | 8-9 |
| 5:26 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 8-11 |
| 5:06 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point stepback jump shot | 11-11 |
| 4:46 | | Julius Randle misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 4:44 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 4:34 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving finger roll layup (Georges Niang assists) | 13-11 |
| 4:11 | | +3 | Josh Hart makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists) | 13-14 |
| 3:50 | | Evan Mobley misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:49 | | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:43 | | Quentin Grimes misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:41 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 3:40 | | Mitchell Robinson turnover (lost ball) (Georges Niang steals) | ||
| 3:39 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:21 | | Tristan Thompson turnover (lost ball) (Isaiah Hartenstein steals) | ||
| 3:07 | | Julius Randle misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 3:05 | | Craig Porter defensive rebound | ||
| 2:57 | | Caris LeVert misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:55 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 2:55 | | Isaiah Hartenstein personal foul (Loose ball) (Tristan Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 2:42 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point hook shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 15-14 |
| 2:16 | | Isaiah Hartenstein turnover (offensive goaltending) | ||
| 1:55 | | Tristan Thompson misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 1:53 | | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | ||
| 1:43 | | Craig Porter shooting foul (Immanuel Quickley draws the foul) | ||
| 1:43 | | Immanuel Quickley misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 1:43 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 1:43 | | +1 | Immanuel Quickley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-15 |
| 1:23 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point pullup jump shot | 17-15 |
| 1:09 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 1:07 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | +2 | Craig Porter makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 19-15 |
| 0:48 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 19-17 |
| 0:48 | | Craig Porter shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 0:48 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-18 |
| 0:39 | | Jalen Brunson shooting foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 0:39 | | +1 | Max Strus makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 20-18 |
| 0:39 | | +1 | Max Strus makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 21-18 |
| 0:39 | | +1 | Max Strus makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 22-18 |
| 0:30 | | +2 | Donte DiVincenzo makes two point cutting layup (Immanuel Quickley assists) | 22-20 |
| 0:07 | | Isaiah Hartenstein shooting foul (Craig Porter draws the foul) | ||
| 0:07 | | +1 | Craig Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-20 |
| 0:07 | | +1 | Craig Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-20 |
| 0:00 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 24-22 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:47 | | +2 | Donte DiVincenzo makes two point cutting dunk (Isaiah Hartenstein assists) | 24-24 |
| 11:28 | | Donte DiVincenzo shooting foul (Donovan Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 11:28 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-24 |
| 11:28 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-24 |
| 11:18 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:16 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | Max Strus blocks Josh Hart's two point driving layup | ||
| 11:09 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Immanuel Quickley assists) | 26-27 |
| 10:41 | | Max Strus turnover (bad pass) (Miles McBride steals) | ||
| 10:37 | | +2 | Miles McBride makes two point running layup | 26-29 |
| 10:25 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point cutting layup (Caris LeVert assists) | 28-29 |
| 10:11 | | Max Strus shooting foul (Donte DiVincenzo draws the foul) | ||
| 10:11 | | +1 | Donte DiVincenzo makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 28-30 |
| 10:11 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | ||
| 10:11 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 10:11 | | +1 | Donte DiVincenzo makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 28-31 |
| 9:59 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point layup | ||
| 9:57 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 9:51 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point running layup | 28-33 |
| 9:34 | | Caris LeVert misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:32 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 9:26 | | Miles McBride misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:24 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 9:13 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:11 | | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:04 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 8:51 | | Josh Hart misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:49 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 8:42 | | Miles McBride shooting foul (Donovan Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 8:42 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-33 |
| 8:42 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-33 |
| 8:38 | | Immanuel Quickley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:36 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 8:29 | | Caris LeVert misses two point layup | ||
| 8:27 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 8:06 | | Josh Hart misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:04 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 7:59 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point running pullup jump shot (Georges Niang assists) | 33-33 |
| 7:51 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:44 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 7:42 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 7:33 | | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point driving floating jump shot | 33-35 |
| 7:13 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:11 | | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | ||
| 7:04 | | Max Strus blocks Immanuel Quickley's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:02 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 6:59 | | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:57 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 6:51 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 36-35 |
| 6:35 | | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 36-38 |
| 6:26 | | Donovan Mitchell turnover (bad pass) (Julius Randle steals) | ||
| 6:13 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Immanuel Quickley draws the foul) | ||
| 6:13 | | +1 | Immanuel Quickley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-39 |
| 6:13 | | Immanuel Quickley misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 6:11 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 5:54 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:52 | | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | ||
| 5:41 | | Julius Randle turnover (lost ball) (Donovan Mitchell steals) | ||
| 5:34 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 39-39 |
| 5:05 | | Knicks turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 4:53 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point driving layup | 41-39 |
| 4:28 | | Evan Mobley blocks Julius Randle's two point driving layup | ||
| 4:26 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 4:24 | | Evan Mobley offensive foul (Charge) (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 4:24 | | Evan Mobley turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 4:08 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point stepback jump shot | 41-41 |
| 3:51 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point layup (Isaac Okoro assists) | 43-41 |
| 3:51 | | Mitchell Robinson shooting foul (Evan Mobley draws the foul) | ||
| 3:51 | | +1 | Evan Mobley makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 44-41 |
| 3:38 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 44-43 |
| 3:20 | | Evan Mobley misses two point jump shot | ||
| 3:18 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 | | Donte DiVincenzo turnover (bad pass) (Evan Mobley steals) | ||
| 2:59 | | +2 | Max Strus makes two point running layup (Evan Mobley assists) | 46-43 |
| 2:38 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:36 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:35 | | Max Strus shooting foul (Mitchell Robinson draws the foul) | ||
| 2:35 |