The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 13 games with a 118-117 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 24 points, while Darius Garland added 20 to help the NBA-leading Cavaliers improve to 53-10.
Evan Mobley finished with 19 points, De’Andre Hunter contributed 15, and Jarrett Allen recorded 14 as Cleveland secured another close win.
Miles Bridges delivered a standout performance for Charlotte, scoring 46 points, but his halfcourt heave at the buzzer missed the mark.
The Hornets, who have now lost nine straight, dropped to 14-48 and continue to struggle in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Cavaliers responded by outscoring the Hornets 25-15 down the stretch, with Hunter’s putback giving them the lead for good at 112-110.
Charlotte had a chance in the final moments, but Hunter’s defensive pressure forced Bridges to lose control of the ball with 21.6 seconds left.
Cleveland capitalized at the free-throw line, finishing 43-of-51 overall, with Mitchell making 12 of his 18 attempts.
Despite missing his last two free throws with 4.8 seconds left, Mitchell’s earlier conversions helped keep the Cavaliers in control.
Jusuf Nurkic had 12 points and 15 rebounds for Charlotte, while LaMelo Ball contributed 13 points and seven assists in limited minutes.
The Hornets struggled to defend Cleveland’s depth, as Sam Merrill provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting from deep.
Hunter’s impact was crucial in the clutch, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists while playing strong defense.
With the playoffs approaching, the Cavaliers continue to solidify their dominance atop the Eastern Conference.
