Donovan Mitchell scored 25 points and Jaylon Tyson added 20 points and six assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 129-99, extending their season-long winning streak to five games Wednesday night.
De’Andre Hunter scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half and Jarrett Allen had 17 points and nine rebounds for Cleveland, which is 12-4 since Dec. 29. Dean Wade added 11 points and Thomas Bryant scored 10.
Luka Doncic posted 29 points, five rebounds and six assists for the Lakers, who trailed 118-84 late into the fourth quarter. LeBron James had 11 points — his lowest as a visitor in Cleveland — in 27 minutes and Gabe Vincent scored 11.
The Cavaliers outscored their guests 42-22 in the third quarter, shooting 68% on 25 field goal attempts to extend their lead to 99-77. Hunter made three 3-pointers in the period and Nae’Qwan Tomlin stripped Doncic at midcourt before delivering an emphatic slam.
Los Angeles is 3-2 on an eight-game trip, necessitated by the Grammy Awards taking over their arena. Bronny James Jr. scored eight points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field in eight minutes in the fourth, receiving loud cheers as soon as he entered the game.
LeBron James, who led the Cavaliers to their only championship in 2016, fell to 9-4 as an opponent in Cleveland, including 4-3 with the Lakers. The 41-year-old Akron, Ohio native spent 11 seasons with his hometown team, taking the franchise to all five of its NBA Finals appearances.
The Cavaliers carried a 57-55 lead into halftime with Tyson and Allen scoring 13 points apiece and Mitchell adding 11. Doncic had 15 points and five assists, making 6 of 8 field goal attempts in the second.
Jake LaRavia scored six points and James had four in the first as the Lakers jumped in front 28-24. Allen had six points and four rebounds for Cleveland, which scored the first seven points of the game.
Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley (left calf strain) was injured Monday against the Orlando Magic and will miss 1-3 weeks. Point guard Darius Garland (right great toe sprain) has resumed on-court workouts, but is not cleared for contact.
Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves (left calf strain) has been sidelined since Dec. 28.
Cleveland will not play its next home contest until Feb. 11 against the Washington Wizards, beginning a five-game trip Friday at the Phoenix Suns.
–Field Level Media
