A near-record scoring night boosted the Cleveland Cavaliers on the first night of a back-to-back.
On Saturday night, the Cavaliers will try to win their fourth consecutive game when they host the Chicago Bulls in an NBA Cup clash.
Visiting Cleveland routed the Washington Wizards 148-114 on Friday, coming one point short of the franchise best for points in a regulation game, set at Denver in December.
Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points to lead seven players in double figures, while Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley posted double-doubles.
“That’s what we’ve been talking about all season so far: Making sure that when we get a lead, we hold it,” Allen said.
Darius Garland has been part of the past two victories after missing the start of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a turf toe injury.
Garland contributed 20 points and nine assists in 28 minutes against Washington. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson suggested that Garland could play Saturday.
Garland surpassed 900 career 3-pointers during the Friday game and ranks third in franchise history in that category.
“You can tell that he’s getting better and better each game. I mean, it’s only been two games, but you can tell the progress that he’s making,” Allen said. “And he makes it so much easier for everybody and myself. Hitting me on assists, the pick and roll — it’s all coming back together.”
Chicago welcomed the return of Ayo Dosunmu (quad contusion) from a two-game absence Friday, but it wasn’t enough as the team opened a stretch of playing six of seven on the road with a 126-110 loss at Milwaukee.
Dosunmu contributed seven points, three assists and two steals in 20 minutes as he works back into the rotation.
A reserve guard, Dosunmu nonetheless was a catalyst during the Bulls’ 5-0 start, contributing to the defensive consistency and energy that fueled a strong run.
“Teams are hitting us, and we’re hitting back,” the Bulls’ Patrick Williams said. “But I think we can hit first.”
Chicago trailed by five points entering the fourth quarter Friday but struggled to contain Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 19 of his 41 points in the fourth.
Five Bulls scored in double figures, with Matas Buzelis leading the way with 20 points. Josh Giddey had 16 points and 14 assists while falling three rebounds shy of his third consecutive triple-double. Kevin Huerter added 13 points off the bench. He has scored in double figures in seven of eight games this season, all as a reserve.
Nikola Vucevic hopes to continue his strong play against Cleveland. He has averaged 23 points and 9.7 rebounds vs. the Cavaliers in his past three games. Dosunmu has scored in double figures in five straight.
Still, Cleveland has dominated the series against its Central Division rival recently, winning nine of 10 games, including a four-game sweep last season. Three games were decided by at least 18 points.
Mitchell scored 37 points in a Nov. 15, 2024, meeting following his 36 against Chicago four days earlier. Allen had a 17-point rebound effort on March 4.
