Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Sam Merrill added 22 as the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away in the second half to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-118 on Tuesday at Rocket Arena. Nine Cavaliers scored in double figures, marking only the second time in franchise history they’ve achieved that feat.
Cleveland’s reserves contributed 57 points, with Jaylon Tyson scoring 18 and Thomas Bryant adding a season-high 15. Jarrett Allen chipped in 14 points, including his first three-pointer since January 2023, as the Cavaliers built a dominant lead after Merrill hit six of 10 three-pointers in the second half.
Zion Williamson led New Orleans off the bench with 26 points, while Derik Queen added 21, but the Pelicans could not maintain their five-game winning streak. The Cavaliers outscored the Pelicans 17-4 during a decisive second-quarter run, with Mitchell going 6-for-6 from the field in the quarter.
Cleveland scored at least 139 points for the second straight game and improved to 17-14, evening their December record at 5-5. The 23-point margin marked their second-largest win of the season. New Orleans fell to 8-23 despite shooting 46% from the field and 42% from three-point range.
The Cavaliers visit the New York Knicks on Christmas Day, while the Pelicans host the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
