Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and Jarrett Allen had 21 points and eight rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers built a 22-point lead before holding on for a 125-121 victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.
Evan Mobley added 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaylon Tyson scored 15 points off the bench in Cleveland’s home opener. James Harden collected 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Cavaliers picked up their first win.
Brooklyn, which trailed 104-82 with 9:29 remaining, pulled within 123-121 on Michael Porter Jr.’s 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left. Porter fouled out on the subsequent possession and Sam Merrill made two free throws for the Cavaliers to put them up four points with 5.2 seconds remaining.
Porter finished with 28 points and nine rebounds, Julius Randle had 23 points and Egor Demin scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter for winless Brooklyn. Demin made four 3-pointers in the fourth and had six assists in the game.
Peyton Watson had 11 points in his home debut for the Cavaliers, who squandered a 29-point lead Thursday and lost 114-106 to LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Chaney Johnson chipped in 10 points for the Nets. Day’Ron Sharpe posted seven points, eight rebounds and six personal fouls before being ejected after two flagrant fouls — both on Harden 3-point tries — to earn an automatic ejection. Demin and Watson also fouled out.
The Cavaliers took the largest lead of the first half at 68-54 on a Watson layup heading into the break. Mobley, Allen and Porter each scored 13 points in the first half, and Harden had seven points, six rebounds and five assists.
Mario Hezonja buried a 3-pointer as time expired in the first quarter, pushing Cleveland’s advantage to 35-30. Mobley and Allen had eight points apiece, while Porter paced the Nets with seven points and four rebounds.
Mitchell was struck on the head by Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. in the first quarter, briefly delaying the game while he lay under the basket.
Brown, who is on a minutes restriction indefinitely because of a left ankle injury, will not play Sunday at home against the Indiana Pacers. The sixth overall pick “is on a long-term plan to build him up properly (physically),” according to coach Jordi Fernandez.
Brooklyn was coming off a 110-103 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Randle and Porter combined for 59 points and were the only Nets in double figures in that game.
