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Donovan Mitchell (28) scored 34 points to lead the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-106 NBA victory over Miami on Wednesday, maintaining their Eastern Conference lead over reigning champions Boston. Darius Garland, averaging 21.7 points per game for the Cavs, was held out to rest while Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro remained sidelined by injuries.
But the Cavaliers led all the way, connecting on 54% of their shots from the field with just seven turnovers as they avenged a December 8 loss to the Heat. Evan Mobley scored 22 points and pulled down 15 rebounds and Ty Jerome added 20 points off the bench for Cleveland, who improved to 38-9 and remained 5.5 games ahead of the Celtics, who thumped the Chicago Bulls 122-100 in Boston. The New York Knicks are a further game back after a 122-112 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Kristaps Porzingis was the driving force in Boston, drilling eight three-pointers on the way to 34 points with 11 rebounds and three steals for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown added 28 points, six rebounds and six assists, Derrick White added 22 points and Jayson Tatum - questionable to start with a sore knee - scored 16. Porzingis set the tone, scoring 13 points in less than four minutes as the Celtics bolted to a 15-6 lead.
The Knicks, fueled by 30 points and 15 assists from Jalen Brunson, notched a fifth straight win. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 33 points. NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic was in foul trouble early and finished with 17 points six rebounds and six assists for Denver, who slumped to a third straight defeat. With Jokic on the bench after two fouls in the opening minutes, the Knicks took charge and after Denver clawed back to take the lead in the third quarter New York had the answer. OG Anunoby scored 23 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who had just six turnovers.
