The Cleveland Cavaliers started the game with a 21-point first-quarter lead to beat the Charlotte Hornets 94-87 for their fifth road win in the last six games on Wednesday night.
Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell dropped 24 points, Evan Mobley added 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Jaylon Tyson contributed 14 points, and Jarod Allen added 13 points and nine rebounds.
On the other hand, Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 24 points and Kon Knueppel had 21 and 11 rebounds, but made just 8 of 46 three-point attempts and was outrebounded 60-47.
Cleveland started with a big lead in the first quarter after making 11 of 15 shots from the field to open the game.
Cavaliers’ stifling on-ball pressure defense repeatedly forced the Hornets into uncharacteristic turnovers and hurried shots.
Mitchell set the tone for the Cavaliers with 14 points in the first half, and Cleveland’s defense never allowed Charlotte to get into momentum in the first two quarters.
The Hornets tied a season low with 12 points in the second quarter and trailed 56-32 lead at the break.
Meanwhile, Charlotte head coach Charles Lee brought LaMelo Ball off the bench again on the first of a back-to-back in an effort to preserve his body, but the move backfired as Ball had one of the worst nights of his career.
Ball finished with four points on 1-of-15 shooting, going 0 of 10 from beyond the three-point line.
The Cavaliers will host the Kings on Friday, while the Hornets will visit Orlando on Thursday.
