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94

Mitchell scores 24 as Cavaliers use fast start to beat Hornets 94-87

Game Article

Game Recap

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets: Game Highlights
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets: Game Highlights

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Evan Mobley added 14 points and 14 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped out to 21-point first-quarter lead and held on to beat the Charlotte Hornets 94-87 Wednesday night for their fifth road win in the last six games.

Jaylon Tyson scored 14 points and Jarod Allen added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who held the Hornets to 32 points in the first half on 26% shooting.

Brandon Miller finished with 24 points and Kon Knueppel had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Charlotte, which made just 8 of 46 3-point attempts and was outrebounded 60-47.

The Cavs bolted to a big lead in the first quarter after making 11 of 15 shots from the field to open the game.

Cleveland's stifling on-ball pressure defense repeatedly forced Charlotte 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 any rhythm 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.

The Hornets got their transition game going in the third quarter and cut the lead to 12 points behind back-to-back alley-oop passes from LaMelo Ball to Miller. Charlotte cut its deficit to four with 13 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Miller and driving layup by Knueppel, but ran out of time.

Ball strategy backfires

Hornets coach Charles Lee again brought LaMelo Ball off the bench on the first night of a back-to-back in an effort to preserve his body, but the move backfired as the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft 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 3-point line.

Up next

Cavaliers: Host the Kings on Friday.

Hornets: Visit the Magic on Thursday.

------

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Game Information

Game Information

Time, Location & Referees
Spectrum Center
Venue
Spectrum Center
Charlotte, NC
Date & Time
12:00 AM, January 22, 2026
Coverage
ESPN, FanDuel SN OH, FanDuel SN SE
Attendance
17,619
Referees
Sean Wright, J.B. DeRosa, Mousa Dagher

Game Analysis

Statistics visualization

Game Stats

Get the latest game stats
Cavaliers
Hornets
34-87FG33-98
39Field Goal %34
8-403PT8-47
20Three Point %17
18-24FT13-18
17Offensive Rebounds17
43Defensive Rebounds30
20Assists20
6Steals12
8Blocks4
20Turnovers12
1Technical Fouls1
21Points Conceded Off Turnovers20
9Fast Break Points26
21Fouls23
27Largest Lead0

Current Standings

2025-26 Central Standings

TEAMWLPCTSTRK
Detroit5621.727W2
Cleveland4829.623W1
Milwaukee3046.395L1
Chicago2947.382L5
Indiana1858.237W2

2025-26 Southeast Standings

TEAMWLPCTSTRK
Atlanta4433.571W3
Charlotte4136.532W2
Orlando4036.526L1
Miami4037.519L1
Washington1759.224L4

Play by Play

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events
TIMEPLAY
12:00
Jarrett Allen vs. Moussa Diabate (Sion James gains possession)
00
11:38
Brandon Miller misses 11-foot pullup jump shot
00
11:35
Jarrett Allen defensive rebound
00
11:29
Donovan Mitchell makes 9-foot driving floating jump shot
02
11:09
Miles Bridges misses 7-foot two point shot
02
11:07
Evan Mobley defensive rebound
02
10:58
Evan Mobley makes 6-foot two point shot
04
10:46
Jarrett Allen blocks Sion James 's 4-foot floating jump shot
04
10:43
Jarrett Allen defensive rebound
04
10:37
Jarrett Allen makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Jaylon Tyson assists)
06
10:16
Kon Knueppel misses 13-foot step back jumpshot
06
10:13
Dean Wade defensive rebound
06
10:03
Donovan Mitchell misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot
06
9:59
Jaylon Tyson offensive rebound
06
9:53
Evan Mobley makes 2-foot driving dunk (Dean Wade assists)
08
9:53
Hornets Full timeout
08
9:40
Moussa Diabate makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot
28
9:18
Jaylon Tyson makes 8-foot floating jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists)
210
8:57
Kon Knueppel misses 25-foot three point jumper
210
8:54
Evan Mobley defensive rebound
210
8:47
Jaylon Tyson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Donovan Mitchell assists)
213
8:23
Brandon Miller misses 23-foot three point jumper
213
8:20
Dean Wade defensive rebound
213
8:07
Miles Bridges personal foul
213
8:07
LaMelo Ball enters the game for Sion James
213
8:00
Donovan Mitchell misses driving floating jump shot
213
7:57
LaMelo Ball defensive rebound
213
7:55
Jaylon Tyson shooting foul
213
7:55
Brandon Miller makes free throw 1 of 2
313
7:55
Brandon Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
413
7:34
Moussa Diabate shooting foul
413
7:34
Jarrett Allen makes free throw 1 of 2
414
7:34
Jarrett Allen makes free throw 2 of 2
415
7:11
Brandon Miller misses 10-foot pullup jump shot
415
7:08
Dean Wade defensive rebound
415
6:59
Donovan Mitchell makes driving layup
417
6:50
LaMelo Ball misses 22-foot three point jumper
417
6:48
Evan Mobley defensive rebound
417
6:41
Donovan Mitchell makes two point shot
419
6:41
Hornets Full timeout
419
6:41
Ryan Kalkbrenner enters the game for Kon Knueppel
419
6:41
Josh Green enters the game for Moussa Diabate
419
6:41
Craig Porter Jr. enters the game for Jarrett Allen
419
6:41
De'Andre Hunter enters the game for Donovan Mitchell
419
6:19
LaMelo Ball makes two point shot
619
6:10
Evan Mobley makes 2-foot two point shot
621
6:10
Ryan Kalkbrenner shooting foul
621
6:10
Nae'Qwan Tomlin enters the game for Dean Wade
621
6:10
Evan Mobley makes free throw 1 of 1
622
5:55
Brandon Miller bad pass turnover (Evan Mobley steals)
622
5:50
LaMelo Ball blocks Nae'Qwan Tomlin 's 2-foot running layup
622
5:48
Nae'Qwan Tomlin offensive rebound
622
5:44
De'Andre Hunter makes 26-foot three point jumper (Nae'Qwan Tomlin assists)
625
5:35
LaMelo Ball misses 28-foot three point pullup jump shot
625
5:32
Nae'Qwan Tomlin defensive rebound
625
5:27
De'Andre Hunter bad pass turnover (Brandon Miller steals)
625
5:22
Brandon Miller blocks De'Andre Hunter 's 28-foot three point jumper
625
5:21
Miles Bridges makes driving layup (LaMelo Ball assists)
825
5:21
De'Andre Hunter shooting foul
825
5:21
Miles Bridges misses free throw 1 of 1
825
5:17
Evan Mobley defensive rebound
825
5:09
Craig Porter Jr. makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
828
4:57
LaMelo Ball misses 6-foot fade away jump shot
828
4:54
Jaylon Tyson defensive rebound
828
4:39
De'Andre Hunter misses 22-foot three point jumper
828
4:36
Nae'Qwan Tomlin offensive rebound
828
4:34
Jaylon Tyson misses 26-foot three point jumper
828
4:34
Hornets defensive team rebound
828
4:34
Grant Williams enters the game for Miles Bridges
828
4:23
Grant Williams misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot
828
4:20
De'Andre Hunter personal foul
828
4:20
Jarrett Allen enters the game for Evan Mobley
828
4:20
Donovan Mitchell enters the game for Jaylon Tyson
828
4:12
Jarrett Allen blocks LaMelo Ball 's 1-foot driving layup
828
4:11
Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
828
4:11
Craig Porter Jr. blocks Ryan Kalkbrenner 's 8-foot hook shot
828
4:11
Hornets offensive team rebound
828
4:10
LaMelo Ball bad pass turnover (De'Andre Hunter steals)
828
4:05
De'Andre Hunter misses running pullup jump shot
828
4:02
Josh Green defensive rebound
828
3:51
Grant Williams offensive foul
828
3:51
Cavaliers Coach's Challenge
828
3:51
Grant Williams offensive foul turnover
828
3:51
(03:51) [Cavaliers] COACH'S CHALLENGE (CALL OVERTURNED) [Cavaliers] retain their timeout
828
3:51
Kon Knueppel enters the game for LaMelo Ball
828
3:51
Collin Sexton enters the game for Brandon Miller
828
3:34
Donovan Mitchell misses 17-foot pullup jump shot
828
3:24
Collin Sexton shooting foul
828
3:24
Hornets Full timeout
828
3:24
(03:24) [Hornets] COACH'S CHALLENGE (CALL STANDS) [Hornets] charged with a timeout
828
3:24
De'Andre Hunter makes free throw 1 of 2
829
3:24
De'Andre Hunter misses free throw 2 of 2
829
3:10
Kon Knueppel defensive rebound
829
3:07
Kon Knueppel misses driving layup
829
3:07
Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
829
3:07
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes tip shot
1029
3:07
De'Andre Hunter shooting foul
1029
3:07
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes free throw 1 of 1
1129
2:54
De'Andre Hunter lost ball turnover (Josh Green steals)
1129
2:49
Kon Knueppel makes running layup (Josh Green assists)
1329
2:30
Craig Porter Jr. misses 22-foot three point jumper
1329
2:25
Nae'Qwan Tomlin offensive rebound
1329
2:25
Nae'Qwan Tomlin makes tip in dunk
1331
2:14
Kon Knueppel makes 26-foot three pointer (Grant Williams assists)
1631
1:58
Donovan Mitchell bad pass turnover (Grant Williams steals)
1631
1:53
Kon Knueppel makes 1-foot layup (Grant Williams assists)
1831
1:53
Cavaliers Full timeout
1831
1:41
De'Andre Hunter misses 25-foot three point jumper
1831
1:31
Grant Williams defensive rebound
1831
1:27
Collin Sexton makes 3-foot driving floating jump shot
2031
1:14
Nae'Qwan Tomlin misses 23-foot three point jumper
2031
1:14
Cavaliers offensive team rebound
2031
1:11
Nae'Qwan Tomlin misses 22-foot three point jumper
2031
1:07
Collin Sexton defensive rebound
2031
1:00
Collin Sexton misses 25-foot three point jumper
2031
59.2
Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound
2031
55.4
Josh Green personal foul
2031
55.4
Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
2032
55.4
Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
2033
32.7
Kon Knueppel misses 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
2033
28.9
Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
2033
27.1
Craig Porter Jr. blocks Ryan Kalkbrenner 's 3-foot driving layup
2033
24.2
De'Andre Hunter defensive rebound
2033
3.2
Jarrett Allen misses 12-foot turnaround jump shot
2033
3.1
Cavaliers offensive team rebound
2033
3.0
shot clock turnover
2033
2.6
Kon Knueppel misses 32-foot three point jumper
2033
0.8
Cavaliers defensive team rebound
2033
0.2
De'Andre Hunter misses heave jump shot
2033
0.1
Cavaliers offensive team rebound
2033
0.0
End of the 1st Quarter
2033

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