Sam Merrill scored a career-high 32 points and made nine 3-pointers, and Donovan Mitchell had 30 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers led from wire to wire in a 138-113 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
James Harden posted 13 points and 11 assists in his home debut for Cleveland, which won its fifth straight and is 10-1 since Jan. 21 to move into fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Jarrett Allen added 21 points and made all eight of his field-goal attempts.
Merrill was 9-for-9 shooting, including seven 3-pointers, and made his only free throw in a 26-point first-half explosion. The Cavaliers led by 27 in the fourth quarter and have scored a total of 416 points in three games against Washington this season.
Kyshawn George scored 17 points and Jamir Watkins had 16 for the Wizards, who have lost three in a row and 14 of their last 18 games. Sharife Cooper came off the bench with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Mitchell, who will compete in the All-Star Game and 3-Point Contest this weekend, had 19 points in the second half. Merrill’s nine makes beyond the arc established another career best and he finished 11 of 12 overall.
Washington trailed by 19 in the opening half before Cooper made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in the first six minutes of the second, pulling it within 54-47. Merrill poured in 17 points in the quarter.
Mitchell, Harden and Merrill each had nine points in the first, when Cleveland jumped ahead 16-3 in building a 40-24 lead. George scored 13 points and matched his career high for a game by going 8 of 8 from the foul line for the Wizards.
Starting center Alex Sarr (right hamstring tightness) and backup Tristan Vukcevic (illness) both were late scratches for Washington. Former All-Star guard Trae Young (right knee sprain) will be evaluated next week.
Cleveland power forward Evan Mobley (left calf strain) has missed seven games, but coach Kenny Atkinson said the reigning Defensive Player of the Year could return by the end of the month.
The Cavaliers have won 15 straight over the Wizards, their second-longest run in franchise history. Cleveland beat the Orlando Magic 17 consecutive times from 2013-17.
–Field Level Media
