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CLEVELAND – Donovan Mitchell had 28 points and 12 assists and Jarrett Allen extended his double-double streak to 15 consecutive games, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 118-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
Isaac Okoro added 17 points, all in the first half, as the Cavs held off a late Clippers comeback and ended Los Angeles’ five-game winning streak.
Cleveland is 10-1 since Jan. 3.
Kawhi Leonard scored 30 and Norman Powell 18 for the Clippers, who pulled within four in the final two minutes but fell to 2-1 on a seven-game season-long road trip.
Paul George scored 13 on 3-of-11 shooting for Los Angeles before fouling out with 3:07 left.
Allen finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds, extending his franchise record of consecutive games with double digits in points and rebounds. The Cavs needed Allen to improve his game while Evan Mobley was out with a knee injury, and the affable center has done that and more over the last month.
Cleveland’s Caris LeVert, who has developed a knack for hitting the buzzer at home, hit a step-back jumper before the buzzer (initially scored a 3) to give the Cavs an 88-81 lead entering to the room.
The Cavs increased their lead to 12 before the Clippers fought back to get within 112-108 on Amir Coffey’s jumper. However, Coffey missed a free throw that would have brought Los Angeles even closer and Mitchell hit an 18-foot jumper with 1:09 remaining.
Cleveland is finally closer to being at full strength.
Mobley played for the first time since undergoing left knee surgery on December 18. He finished with 10 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes. The Cavs initially plan to limit his time until he returns to form.
Mobley’s return is expected to be quickly followed by the return of Darius Garland after missing 19 games with a broken jaw. The point guard will likely play Wednesday night.
Mobley had some strong moments and some where he showed rust from his firing. In the second quarter, he grabbed a rebound, dribbled the length of the court and broke through the Clippers’ defense before scoring.
Leonard began to assert himself late in the second quarter, scoring on three consecutive possessions, all on mid-range jumpers, as the Clippers, who trailed by nine early, opened up a 51-44 lead.
However, the Cavs responded with a 12-1 run, capped by Okoro’s corner 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left to take a 56-52 halftime lead.
Until next time
Clippers: In Washington on Wednesday.
Cavaliers: Host Detroit on Wednesday.
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