NBA: Donovan Mitchell dazzles with 35 points, leading Cavs in rout of 76ers

Donovan Mitchell scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half as the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to a 133-107 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

Darius Garland added 20 points and seven assists for Cleveland before leaving late in the third quarter with a foot injury. Evan Mobley contributed 17 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. The Cavaliers will face the Sixers again on Friday.

Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 20 points, while Paul George had 17. Starting guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for just 23 points on 8-of-26 shooting.

Cleveland led by 13 at halftime and extended the lead to 21 in the third quarter. Philadelphia briefly cut the deficit, but Mitchell’s scoring kept the Cavaliers comfortably ahead. He made two 3-pointers and four free throws in the final four minutes of the third quarter, giving Cleveland a 93-75 lead heading into the fourth.

The Sixers briefly trimmed the gap to 15 early in the final period, but a 20-5 Cavaliers run, highlighted by three 3-pointers from Jaylon Tyson, sealed the victory.

The Cavaliers dominated the first quarter, outscoring Philadelphia 33-18, with Garland and De’Andre Hunter each scoring eight points. After Philadelphia briefly led 10-9, Cleveland scored 18 of the next 20 points, capped by a Hunter floater. Hunter’s 3-pointer later gave the Cavaliers their largest first-quarter lead at 30-14.

Embiid helped Philadelphia narrow the gap to six twice late in the first half, but Mobley scored twice and Hunter added a 3-pointer to send Cleveland into halftime with a 60-47 lead. Garland led all first-half scorers with 14 points.

—Field Level Media/Reuters