Donovan Mitchell scored 25 points and Jaylon Tyson added 20 as the Cleveland Cavaliers broke the game open after halftime and routed the Los Angeles Lakers 129-99 on Wednesday night, spoiling LeBron James’ return to Northeast Ohio.
De’Andre Hunter finished with 19 points and Jarrett Allen contributed 17 points and nine rebounds for Cleveland, which won its season-high fifth straight game.
The Cavaliers led 57-55 at the break before taking complete control in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 42-22. Cleveland turned a two-point game into a blowout with a 25-8 run midway through the period, highlighted by eight points from Mitchell and seven from Tyson. The Cavs shot 17 of 25 from the field in the quarter and went 7 of 11 from 3-point range after struggling from deep in the first half.
James was held to 11 points in 27 minutes, marking the first time in 13 appearances in Cleveland as an opponent that he failed to score at least 20. The 41-year-old Akron native went 3 for 10 from the field, missed all three of his 3-point attempts and finished 5 of 6 at the free-throw line. It was also his most lopsided loss in Cleveland as a visitor.
James grew emotional during a first-quarter timeout when the Cavaliers played a video tribute highlighting his iconic performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, when he scored 25 consecutive points.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 29 points despite briefly leaving the game in the first quarter to have his left ankle examined after landing awkwardly on a 3-point attempt. Los Angeles dropped to 3-2 on its seven-game road trip.
Up next:
Lakers: At Washington on Friday night.
Cavaliers: At Phoenix on Friday night.
