The Cleveland Cavaliers carried the longest winning streak in the Eastern Conference into the All-Star break, rolling off five straight victories.
Their high-profile backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden will attempt to keep the surge going Thursday, when the visiting Brooklyn Nets make their only visit to Northeast Ohio this season.
Mitchell was a busy man during the league’s midseason showcase, playing in his seventh All-Star Game and competing in the 3-Point Contest at the home arena of the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif.
“It was good. It was intense,” Mitchell, 29, said of his experience. “That was great. To see young guys hooping, the world hooping, Big Bron (LeBron James), K.D. (Kevin Durant). Being around that is always a blessing to be on this stage.”
Cleveland is 10-1 since Jan. 21, allowing a move up to fourth place in the East and within striking range of the No. 2 Boston Celtics and No. 3 New York Knicks with 27 regular-season games remaining.
Mitchell has been a constant throughout the Cavaliers’ up-and-down season, averaging a career-high 29.0 points while leading the league with 185 3-pointers. He has been visibly happier on the court since Harden, an 11-time All-Star and NBA MVP in 2018, was acquired in a Feb. 4 trade.
Harden is admittedly still settling in following his departure from the Clippers, contributing 19.3 points and 8.7 assists per game through his first three. Mitchell is averaging 32.3 points and 6.3 assists during the same period.
“We haven’t really watched film or practiced together yet,” Mitchell said. “But he’ll figure it out. We’ll figure it out. There’s not much to say; he’s a high-IQ guy.
“The goal is to get a championship and I’m definitely ready to get back to work, for sure.”
Brooklyn, meanwhile, is playing out the string as it sits 13th in the East and 9 1/2 games out of the final play-in tournament position. The Nets begin a three-game road trip in Cleveland before challenging the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
The Cavaliers have won five in a row over Brooklyn, including a 131-124 decision on Oct. 24 in New York. Cam Thomas had 33 points and nine assists for the Nets in that contest, but the guard was waived two weeks ago and is now with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Brooklyn last played seven days ago, losing 115-110 at home to the Indiana Pacers. Center Day’Ron Sharpe collected 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Rookie point guard Nolan Traore had 20 points and eight assists in 32 minutes.
Nets shooting guard Egor Demin, the eighth overall pick in 2025, scored 13 points against Indiana before hopping on a flight to Los Angeles to play in the Rising Stars. He helped Team Vince Carter win the mini tournament that kicked off the All-Star festivities.
Demin is averaging 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists, all of which rank in the top 14 among rookies. His 39.6% on 3-point attempts trails only the Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel (43.1%) for rookies.
“Special players can do those things,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. “And seeing him now as a 19-year-old and a rookie, able to make those shots in the fourth quarter, there’s something we cannot teach in those moments — and he has it in him.”
–Field Level Media
