Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points and Jaylon Tyson added a season-high 27 as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 135-119 on Monday in Indianapolis to end a three-game losing streak.
De’Andre Hunter and Evan Mobley scored 13 points apiece for Cleveland, which led by as many as 21 in the second quarter and never trailed after moving ahead 5-2 in the game’s first two minutes. Tyrese Proctor added 12 points.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 26 points and seven rebounds. Andrew Nembhard scored 21 points, Jay Huff and Garrison Mathews added 15 apiece, and Bennedict Mathurin had 11.
The Pacers had won two straight games for the first time after going 2-16 to open the season.
Mitchell had nine rebounds and six assists for Cleveland, which shot 51% from the field and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.
The Cavaliers sprinted to a 20-8 lead and held a 37-25 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
The Cavaliers extended their lead to 53-32 with 7:43 left in the second quarter before Indiana rallied in the final minutes of the half to cut the deficit to 66-54 at intermission.
Mitchell scored 17 points and Tyson had 15 in the first half for Cleveland, which played without Jarrett Allen (finger sprain), Larry Nance Jr. (hand sprain), Lonzo Ball (illness), Sam Merrill (hand sprain) and Darius Garland (toe injury management).
The Pacers continued to chip into the lead in the third quarter. Jarace Walker scored with 3:08 left in the period to cut the deficit to 90-83, and the Pacers trailed by nine at the end of the quarter.
Mitchell quashed Indiana’s comeback hopes by scoring five quick points to begin the fourth quarter. Cleveland kept the pressure on and moved ahead 116-99 on Proctor’s 3-pointer with 7:31 remaining.
Siakam headed to the bench shortly before Proctor’s trey and did not return. With Siakam out, the Cavaliers remained in control and extended their lead to 125-106 on Dean Wade’s 3-pointer with 6:12 left.
Ethan Thompson made his NBA debut midway through the fourth quarter and scored two points for Indiana, which allowed a season-high 28 second-chance points.
–Field Level Media
