The Cleveland Cavaliers reached 60 wins for the first time in over a decade, holding off a late rally from the Los Angeles Clippers for a 127-122 victory on Sunday.
Jarrett Allen led the way with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell added 24 points, 12 boards, and seven assists as Cleveland (60-15) maintained its hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Evan Mobley contributed 22 points, including seven during a decisive third-quarter run that helped the Cavaliers regain control after the Clippers had cut the deficit to one.
Norman Powell carried Los Angeles (42-32) in the absence of Kawhi Leonard, pouring in a game-high 34 points, while James Harden tallied 24 points and eight assists.
The Cavaliers built an 18-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Clippers stormed back, using a 14-5 run in the final three minutes to trim the gap to 125-122 with 19 seconds left.
Powell’s performance was a bright spot for the Clippers, as he scored 24 of his 34 points in the first half—his second-highest first-half scoring total in his career.
Harden shot 7-of-18 from the field, connecting on four three-pointers, while Ivica Zubac contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds.
The Cavaliers shot 50.5% from the field and dominated the boards, outrebounding the Clippers 45-44 despite playing most of the game with a smaller lineup.
Allen was nearly perfect from the floor, making 11 of his 12 shots, while Mobley showcased his versatility by hitting three three-pointers.
The Clippers lost Amir Coffey early in the game due to left knee soreness, further depleting a lineup already missing Leonard.
Los Angeles shot 39% from beyond the arc but struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 16 of 22 attempts.
Mitchell recorded his sixth double-double of the season, tying his career-high for a single campaign.
With the win, Cleveland moved 4.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings, inching closer to securing the No. 1 seed.
