Cleveland Cavs superstar Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 28 points, including a jumper with 1:09 left in the game, putting the game away for the Cavs.
Late in the game, with the Cavs having a hard time scoring, Cavs head coach JB Bickerstaff made a substitute with Georges Niang for Isaac Okoro, making a big difference in the final two minutes. Niang entered with the Cavs only up four at 1:34 and doubled to eight with only 37 seconds left.
With the return of Evan Mobley, he, along with double-double machine Jarrett Allen, controlled the boards, combining for 26 as the Cavs outrebounded the Clippers 46 to 37.
Donovan Mitchell notched 28 points and 12 assists, while Jarrett Allen extended his double-double streak to 15 consecutive games, guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 118-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
Isaac Okoro contributed 17 points, all in the first half, as the Cavs thwarted a late comeback attempt by the Clippers and snapped L.A.’s five-game winning streak.
Cleveland boasts a 10-1 record since January 3.
Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points, and Norman Powell added 18 for the Clippers, who, despite narrowing the gap to four points in the final two minutes, saw their winning streak end at five, dropping to 2-1 on a season-long seven-game road trip.
Paul George managed 13 points on 3 of 11 shooting for Los Angeles before fouling out with 3:07 left.
Allen finished the game with 20 points and 17 rebounds, extending his franchise record for consecutive games with double-digit points and boards. With Evan Mobley sidelined due to a knee injury, Allen stepped up admirably over the past month.
Caris LeVert of the Cavs hit a step-back jumper just before the buzzer, initially ruled as a 3-pointer, giving Cleveland an 88-81 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Cavs expanded their lead to 12, but the Clippers mounted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 112-108 on Amir Coffey’s jumper. However, Coffey missed a crucial free throw, and Mitchell sealed the victory with an 18-foot jumper with 1:09 remaining.
Cleveland is nearing full strength with Mobley returning after left knee surgery on December 18. He played for 21 minutes, recording 10 points and nine rebounds. Darius Garland is expected to return soon after missing 19 games with a broken jaw, likely to play on Wednesday night.
Despite moments of rust, Mobley showcased strong plays, including a second-quarter sequence where he grabbed a rebound, dribbled the length of the floor, and dunked after navigating through the Clippers’ defense.
Leonard asserted himself late in the second quarter, scoring on three consecutive possessions with mid-range jumpers. However, the Cavs responded with a 12-1 run, capped by Okoro’s corner 3-pointer, securing a 56-52 halftime lead.
Host Pistons on Wednesday.
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