Mitchell Shines As Cavaliers Rout Clippers After Blockbuster Trade

In a night that will be remembered as much for its off-court drama as its on-court dominance, Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers made a resounding statement against the Los Angeles Clippers, cruising to a 124-91 victory in Inglewood, California, on February 4, 2026. The win, which marked Cleveland's ninth triumph in their last 11 outings, came just a day after a blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Cavaliers and Darius Garland to the Clippers, shaking up the rosters and the NBA landscape.

Neither Harden nor Garland suited up for their new teams, as the league's trade paperwork had yet to clear. Still, both were present in the arena, their mere presence underscoring the magnitude of the transaction. In a touching postgame moment, Cleveland players greeted Garland, their former teammate, with visible emotion—an acknowledgment of the bonds forged and the new chapters ahead.

On the hardwood, the Cavaliers wasted no time imposing their will. Cleveland raced out to a 36-18 lead after the opening quarter, with Mitchell setting the tone early. Jaylon Tyson, who finished with 17 points, connected on a three-pointer just over a minute into the contest, and the Cavaliers never looked back. Sam Merrill and Dennis Schroder, the latter making his Cavaliers debut after arriving in a separate three-team deal, each chipped in 11 points, while Jarrett Allen anchored the paint with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

“We came out focused, knowing there were a lot of eyes on us tonight,” Mitchell said after the game, his 29-point, nine-assist, five-rebound performance emblematic of his leadership. “With the new faces coming in and the changes happening, we wanted to show what we're made of.”

The Clippers, meanwhile, struggled to find their footing. Kawhi Leonard poured in 25 points and grabbed seven boards, and John Collins contributed 19 points, but the absence of starting center Ivica Zubac—out for the birth of his child—left a noticeable void. Rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser made the most of his opportunity, tallying 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Derrick Jones Jr. returned from a month-long knee injury to chip in seven points.

Los Angeles, who had lost only five games since December 20 before this contest, found themselves on the wrong end of consecutive defeats for the first time since a five-game skid back in December. The Clippers shot a respectable 46.3% from the field but were ice-cold from distance, converting just 6 of 28 three-point attempts (21.4%). More damaging, though, were the 24 turnovers they committed—miscues that Cleveland ruthlessly converted into 47 points.

“We just didn’t take care of the ball,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue lamented. “Against a team as aggressive as Cleveland, you can’t afford to give them that many extra possessions.”

For the Cavaliers, the story was one of efficiency and opportunism. They shot 51.0% from the floor and a robust 39.0% (16 of 41) from beyond the arc. More importantly, they limited themselves to just nine turnovers, a testament to their discipline and ball movement. The team's 30 assists on 50 made field goals highlighted a collective approach that has fueled their recent surge up the Eastern Conference standings.

Schroder, who arrived from Sacramento along with Keon Ellis (six points in his Cavaliers debut), looked comfortable orchestrating the offense. “It’s a new system, but the guys have welcomed me in,” Schroder said. “We’re building something special here.”

The game’s competitive balance was essentially decided by halftime. After the Clippers trimmed the deficit to 46-38 midway through the second quarter, Cleveland responded with a 16-4 run. Mitchell’s buzzer-beating three-pointer with 0.2 seconds left in the half gave the Cavaliers a commanding 62-42 advantage heading into the break. Tyson led Cleveland with 15 first-half points, while Leonard tried to keep Los Angeles afloat with 16 of his own.

The third quarter saw more of the same. Merrill’s three-pointer capped an 8-0 burst that pushed the lead to 70-46 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the period. By the time Craig Porter Jr. slammed home a dunk with 11 seconds left in the quarter, the score had ballooned to 94-68, and the Cavaliers’ bench was already celebrating.

Early in the fourth, Porter Jr. drained a three-pointer to extend the lead past 30. The margin would peak at 35 points, a reflection of Cleveland’s total control. Even as the Clippers’ reserves, including Kobe Brown (10 points) and Niederhauser, provided some late offense, the outcome was never in doubt.

Despite the lopsided score, the contest was not without its silver linings for Los Angeles. The debut of Garland looms, and with Harden set to join Cleveland’s backcourt, both franchises are positioned for intriguing second-half runs. The Clippers will also welcome back Zubac soon, and the return of Jones Jr. from injury adds needed depth.

Looking ahead, the Cavaliers will travel to Sacramento for a Saturday night clash, while the Clippers head to the same city for a Friday matchup. Both teams will be eager to integrate their new stars and recalibrate after a whirlwind week.

For now, though, it’s the Cavaliers who leave Inglewood with momentum firmly in hand. Mitchell’s leadership, the depth provided by newcomers like Schroder and Ellis, and a commitment to defensive intensity have Cleveland looking like a team on the rise. As the dust settles from the trade and the NBA calendar rolls on, all eyes will be on how these retooled squads fare with their new lineups—and whether this emphatic win marks the start of something even bigger for the Cavaliers.