Cavaliers hold off Nets 125-121 after building 24-point lead

Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Brooklyn Nets 125-121 on Saturday, October 24, after leading by 24 and surviving a 41-point fourth quarter.

Mitchell made 7 of 15 shots and all six of his free throws. Jarrett Allen added 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and Evan Mobley had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Cleveland (1-1) opened on a 10-0 run and led 39-30 after the first quarter. A second 10-0 run in the second made it 58-46, and the Cavaliers held control through the third and reached 104-80 early in the fourth.

Brooklyn (0-2) outscored Cleveland 41-29 in the period. James Harden made two free throws in the final 26 seconds and Julius Randle's driving dunk cut it to 122-118, but Michael Porter Jr. hit a 23-foot three-pointer with 8.1 seconds left to make it 123-121.

Sam Merrill made both free throws with 5.2 seconds left for the final margin.

Porter led Brooklyn with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting and nine rebounds. Randle scored 23 and Egor Demin 22, with five threes. The Nets made 20 of 49 from beyond the arc.

Cleveland blocked nine shots to Brooklyn's one and made 29 free throws to the Nets' 23, even though it turned the ball over 23 times. Brooklyn grabbed 18 offensive rebounds.

Up next

Cavaliers: vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, October 26.

Nets: vs. the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, October 25.