The Cleveland Cavaliers edged out the Brooklyn Nets 105-100 on Saturday night, improving their record to 11-0. Cleveland became the 12th team in NBA history to begin a season with 11 straight victories, as Evan Mobley powered the win with 23 points and 16 rebounds.
Trailing 82-68 late in the third quarter, the Cavaliers rallied behind Darius Garland, who scored eight of his 20 points in the final quarter. Garland’s free throws at the 1:22 mark put Cleveland ahead for good at 97-96.
Donovan Mitchell contributed 22 points, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the line, while Caris LeVert added 12 off the bench. Cleveland’s league-leading offense regained momentum in the fourth quarter, making 14 of 18 shots after scoring only 13 points in the third.
Cam Johnson led Brooklyn with 23 points, and both Dennis Schroder and Cam Thomas scored 22. Johnson’s three-pointer with just over four minutes remaining extended the Nets’ lead to 96-89 before Cleveland answered with a 10-0 run to retake control.
Brooklyn, coming off an overtime loss in Boston, struggled to contain Cleveland’s scoring in the clutch. The Nets held Cleveland to a season-low in points through three quarters but couldn’t keep pace in the final period as fatigue seemed to set in.
