Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Brooklyn Nets in a 110-97 victory on Thursday night.
Cleveland (45-10) maintained its hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference with four players scoring in double figures.
Darius Garland finished with 18 points, Evan Mobley contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Jarrett Allen dominated inside with 16 points and 20 boards.
The Cavaliers pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Brooklyn 35-27 to enter the final period with a 13-point lead.
Cleveland remains undefeated this season when leading after three quarters, improving to 40-0 in such situations.
Brooklyn (20-31) struggled offensively, shooting just 40% from the field and 26.3% from beyond the arc.
Cam Johnson led the Nets with 18 points, while Keon Johnson added 16. Trendon Watford scored 13 points off the bench, and Ziaire Williams and Jalen Wilson each finished with 10.
Cleveland controlled the rebounding battle, finishing with a 52-45 edge on the glass. Allen led the way with 20 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
The Cavaliers also capitalized on Brooklyn’s struggles at the free-throw line, as the Nets shot just 57.9% from the stripe.
Mitchell, who shot 8-of-21 from the field, added five rebounds and two assists while hitting three three-pointers.
Garland dished out a game-high nine assists, helping orchestrate Cleveland’s offense.
Mobley had a strong two-way performance, recording three steals and a block in addition to his double-double.
De’Andre Hunter scored nine points off the bench, while Ty Jerome and Isaac Okoro each chipped in with six and five, respectively.
Cleveland’s defense played a key role in the win, holding Brooklyn to 19 points in the first quarter and just 20 in the fourth.
The Nets’ leading scorer, Cam Johnson, made just six of his 11 attempts from the floor, while Keon Johnson missed all six of his three-point attempts.
D’Angelo Russell struggled in limited minutes, finishing with three points on 1-of-7 shooting. Nic Claxton contributed eight points and nine rebounds but missed all four of his free throws.
Trendon Watford provided a spark off the bench, hitting 4-of-11 shots and making four free throws. Killian Hayes, who signed earlier in the day, had five points, three assists, and a steal in 21 minutes.
Brooklyn’s defense forced 16 turnovers but failed to capitalize, as Cleveland’s second-half surge proved too much to overcome.
