CLEVELAND -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and De’Andre Hunter had 15 of his 27 in the second half, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 139-132 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

Darius Garland added 27 points and 10 assists for Cleveland, which pulled away in the second half to snap a three-game losing streak. The Cavaliers also had lost three straight at home and are 2-5 at Rocket Arena since Nov. 30.

LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 23 points and nine assists, making six 3-pointers. Rookie Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller each had 20 points, while Moussa Diabate grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds.

Hunter gave the Cavaliers a big boost early in the third quarter, remaining on the court after being bloodied by a flagrant foul to his face by Diabate. He made both free throws, then a 3-pointer on the subsequent possession to push their lead to 98-85.

Dean Wade chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which took its largest advantage at 131-112. Lonzo Ball had six points and seven assists in the middle contest of a three-game homestand that precedes the Cavaliers’ Christmas Day game at New York.

Mitchell ended the first half by banking in a 28-footer at the horn, giving him 18 points and the Cavaliers a 70-63 advantage. Garland scored 17 points, while Knueppel and Ball each had 15 for Charlotte.

There were 12 lead changes and 10 ties before intermission, but neither team went up by double digits.

Hornets center Mason Plumlee exited with right groin soreness in the third and did not return. He started in place of rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner, who was a game-day scratch because of a sprained left elbow.

Up next

Hornets: Host Washington on Tuesday.

Cavaliers: Host New Orleans on Tuesday.

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

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Mason Plumlee vs. Jarrett Allen	0	0
11:47	Donovan Mitchell traveling turnover	0	0
11:30	Brandon Miller misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	0	0
11:26	Jarrett Allen defensive rebound	0	0
11:20	Mason Plumlee shooting foul	0	0
11:20	Jarrett Allen makes free throw 1 of 2	1	0
11:20	Jarrett Allen makes free throw 2 of 2	2	0
11:04	LaMelo Ball makes 27-foot three point step back jumpshot	2	3
10:52	Darius Garland makes 24-foot three point jumper (Dean Wade assists)	5	3
10:33	LaMelo Ball makes 24-foot three point jumper (Brandon Miller assists)	5	6
10:22	Darius Garland makes 25-foot three pointer	8	6
10:08	Mason Plumlee makes alley oop layup (LaMelo Ball assists)	8	8
10:08	Donovan Mitchell shooting foul	8	8
10:08	Mason Plumlee makes free throw 1 of 1	8	9
10:01	Brandon Miller shooting foul	8	9
10:01	Darius Garland makes free throw 1 of 2	9	9
10:01	Darius Garland makes free throw 2 of 2	10	9
9:45	Jaylon Tyson shooting foul	10	9
9:45	Miles Bridges makes free throw 1 of 2	10	10
9:45	Miles Bridges misses free throw 2 of 2	10	10
9:43	Mason Plumlee offensive rebound	10	10
9:39	Mason Plumlee out of bounds bad pass turnover	10	10
9:33	Darius Garland misses 24-foot three point jumper	10	10
9:31	LaMelo Ball defensive rebound	10	10
9:26	Miles Bridges bad pass turnover (Darius Garland steals)	10	10
9:22	Donovan Mitchell makes 26-foot running jump shot (Darius Garland assists)	13	10
9:05	LaMelo Ball makes 25-foot three pointer	13	13
8:48	Donovan Mitchell makes 24-foot three pointer (Jarrett Allen assists)	16	13
8:37	LaMelo Ball misses 29-foot three point pullup jump shot	16	13
8:33	Dean Wade defensive rebound	16	13
8:27	Donovan Mitchell misses 28-foot three point jumper	16	13
8:22	Miles Bridges defensive rebound	16	13
8:17	Brandon Miller makes layup (LaMelo Ball assists)	16	15
8:07	Jarrett Allen makes driving layup (Donovan Mitchell assists)	18	15
7:57	LaMelo Ball lost ball turnover (Jarrett Allen steals)	18	15
7:53	Brandon Miller shooting foul	18	15
7:53	Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2	19	15
7:53	Hornets Full timeout	19	15
7:53	Sion James enters the game for Mason Plumlee	19	15
7:53	Moussa Diabate enters the game for Brandon Miller	19	15
7:53	Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2	20	15
7:40	Kon Knueppel makes 12-foot pullup jump shot	20	17
7:25	Jarrett Allen makes 4-foot two point shot (Donovan Mitchell assists)	22	17
7:15	LaMelo Ball misses driving floating jump shot	22	17
7:13	Jarrett Allen defensive rebound	22	17
7:13	LaMelo Ball personal foul	22	17
7:13	Sam Merrill enters the game for Dean Wade	22	17
7:13	De'Andre Hunter enters the game for Donovan Mitchell	22	17
6:57	De'Andre Hunter misses 19-foot pullup jump shot	22	17
6:54	LaMelo Ball defensive rebound	22	17
6:45	Miles Bridges misses 26-foot three point jumper	22	17
6:43	Jarrett Allen defensive rebound	22	17
6:39	Jarrett Allen bad pass turnover (Moussa Diabate steals)	22	17
6:35	Sion James makes 1-foot running dunk (Kon Knueppel assists)	22	19
6:23	Sam Merrill misses 24-foot three point jumper	22	19
6:21	Hornets defensive team rebound	22	19
6:21	Josh Green enters the game for LaMelo Ball	22	19
6:02	Kon Knueppel misses 26-foot three point jumper	22	19
5:59	De'Andre Hunter defensive rebound	22	19
5:51	Darius Garland misses 10-foot two point shot	22	19
5:49	Miles Bridges defensive rebound	22	19
5:44	Miles Bridges makes running layup	22	21
5:24	De'Andre Hunter makes 6-foot floating jump shot (Darius Garland assists)	24	21
5:24	Moussa Diabate defensive goaltending violation	24	21
5:02	Jarrett Allen shooting foul	24	21
5:02	Sion James misses free throw 1 of 2	24	21
5:02	Hornets offensive team rebound	24	21
5:02	Lonzo Ball enters the game for Jaylon Tyson	24	21
5:02	Thomas Bryant enters the game for Jarrett Allen	24	21
5:02	Sion James makes free throw 2 of 2	24	22
4:55	De'Andre Hunter makes 25-foot three point jumper (Darius Garland assists)	27	22
4:39	Kon Knueppel steps out of bounds turnover	27	22
4:22	Thomas Bryant makes 5-foot two point shot (Lonzo Ball assists)	29	22
4:14	De'Andre Hunter personal foul	29	22
4:14	Donovan Mitchell enters the game for Darius Garland	29	22
4:14	Tre Mann enters the game for Kon Knueppel	29	22
4:08	Moussa Diabate bad pass turnover (Sam Merrill steals)	29	22
4:02	De'Andre Hunter makes two point shot (Sam Merrill assists)	31	22
3:49	Josh Green makes 23-foot three point jumper (Sion James assists)	31	25
3:33	De'Andre Hunter misses layup	31	25
3:30	Moussa Diabate defensive rebound	31	25
3:14	Sion James makes 6-foot two point shot	31	27
2:59	Sam Merrill misses 25-foot three point jumper	31	27
2:56	Moussa Diabate defensive rebound	31	27
2:46	Tre Mann makes 29-foot three point jumper (Miles Bridges assists)	31	30
2:43	Cavaliers Full timeout	31	30
2:28	Tre Mann blocks Donovan Mitchell 's 1-foot driving layup	31	30
2:27	Hornets defensive team rebound	31	30
2:14	Tre Mann vs. De'Andre Hunter (Donovan Mitchell gains possession)	31	30
2:14	Tre Mann lost ball turnover (De'Andre Hunter steals)	31	30
2:08	De'Andre Hunter misses 25-foot three point jumper	31	30
2:05	Miles Bridges defensive rebound	31	30
1:57	Miles Bridges misses 25-foot three point jumper	31	30
1:54	Moussa Diabate offensive rebound	31	30
1:50	Tre Mann misses driving floating jump shot	31	30
1:47	Tre Mann offensive rebound	31	30
1:45	Thomas Bryant shooting foul	31	30
1:45	Josh Green misses free throw 1 of 2	31	30
1:45	Hornets offensive team rebound	31	30
1:45	Tidjane Salaun enters the game for Miles Bridges	31	30
1:45	Kon Knueppel enters the game for Tre Mann	31	30
1:45	Josh Green makes free throw 2 of 2	31	31
1:37	Moussa Diabate personal foul	31	31
1:37	De'Andre Hunter makes free throw 1 of 2	32	31
1:37	Tre Mann enters the game for Josh Green	32	31
1:37	De'Andre Hunter makes free throw 2 of 2	33	31
1:22	Tidjane Salaun makes driving layup (Tre Mann assists)	33	33
1:12	Donovan Mitchell misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot	33	33
1:08	Tidjane Salaun defensive rebound	33	33
49.2	Kon Knueppel makes 27-foot three point jumper (Sion James assists)	33	36
29.1	Donovan Mitchell misses 10-foot two point shot	33	36
27.0	Moussa Diabate defensive rebound	33	36
5.1	Tre Mann misses two point shot	33	36
4.2	Moussa Diabate offensive rebound	33	36
3.8	Moussa Diabate misses tip shot	33	36
3.1	Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound	33	36
0.0	Lonzo Ball misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	33	36
0.0	Cavaliers offensive team rebound	33	36
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	33	36

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Rocket Arena

Cleveland, OH

Date & Time

12:00 AM, December 23, 2025

Coverage

Peacock, FanDuel SN OH

Attendance

19,432

Referees

James Williams, Natalie Sago, Sha'Rae Mitchell

2025-26 Southeast Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Orlando	34	28	.548	W3
Miami	35	29	.547	W4
Atlanta	32	31	.508	W5
Charlotte	32	32	.500	L1
Washington	16	46	.258	L7

2025-26 Central Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Detroit	45	16	.738	L2
Cleveland	39	24	.619	W2
Milwaukee	26	35	.426	L4
Chicago	26	37	.413	W1
Indiana	15	48	.238	L8

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Mitchell scores 30 points as the Cavaliers beat the Hornets 139-132 to end a 3-game losing streak

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