CLEVELAND — Darius Garland scored 26 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, propelling the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. With this win, the Cavaliers improved to 25-4, maintaining the top record in the league.
Garland's shooting was particularly impressive as he made 6 of his 7 three-point attempts, leading the Cavaliers to tie their season high with 22 made three-pointers. Donovan Mitchell contributed with 19 points, and Georges Niang added 13 points off the bench. The Cavaliers' remarkable home record of 16-1 also played a role, demonstrating their dominance at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey was the standout performer, scoring 27 points with 13 of those coming during the third quarter. Paul George added 11 points, but the 76ers struggled significantly without center Joel Embiid, who was sidelined due to a sinus fracture and knee soreness. Embiid had previously scored 34 points against Charlotte but could not participate for the second game of the back-to-back set.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse expressed his frustrations over the loss of rookie shooting guard Jared McCain, who underwent knee surgery earlier this week, resulting in challenges for his rotation. “When you lose McCain, all those plans go right out the window,” he lamented.
The Cavaliers showcased their offensive prowess throughout the game, with Mobley making a significant impact. After being scoreless in the first quarter, he erupted for 12 points in the second quarter and followed up with 10 points during the third. During this pivotal stretch, Mobley executed a thrilling slam dunk over KJ Martin and Andre Drummond, igniting both the crowd and his teammates, contributing to the team’s explosive 9-0 run to start the second half.
Key statistics from the game show the Cavaliers converting 22 of 43 attempts from three-point range, marking the first time in franchise history they have made 19 or more three-pointers in three consecutive games. They currently lead the NBA with a .405 three-point shooting percentage.
Looking forward, the 76ers will host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, and the Cavaliers prepare to face the Utah Jazz the same night.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson scored 29 of his season-high 39 points during the second half, leading the New York Knicks to overcome the New Orleans Pelicans with a final score of 104-93. Brunson was instrumental down the stretch, helping the Knicks recover from trailing 65-52 midway through the third quarter.
Although the Knicks initially struggled with their shooting, achieving only 35.6% accuracy in the first half, Brunson ignited the team's performance, scoring 16 points, including 13 straight, during a pivotal 22-6 run. This surge not only allowed the Knicks to regain the lead but also established them with significant momentum as they pulled away. They extended the lead to 95-81 as Brunson scored nine of the Knicks' first 13 points of the fourth quarter.
Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 26 points, as the team faced their 15th loss out of their last 16 games. New Orleans seemed to lose its grip on the game, having last seen double-digit leads since December 5. The Pelicans initially went up 45-32 on Brandon Boston's three-pointer but crumbled under the Knicks' offensive onslaught.
Brunson had an outstanding shooting night, finishing with 13 of 19 from the floor, including 7 of 10 from long range and 6 of 6 from the line. The Knicks also received support from Mikal Bridges with 18 points and OG Anunoby with 16.
Up next for the Knicks is a home game against the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, and the Pelicans will welcome the Denver Nuggets the following evening.
