SportsDirect Inc. Ad
SportsDirect Inc. Ad
SportsDirect Inc. Ad
National Basketball Association
Cleveland 131, New Orleans 122
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Officials: #58 Josh Tiven, #52 Scott Twardoski, #96 Intae Hwang
Attendance: 15694

Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers set the record for the best start in franchise history at 9-0 with a 131-122 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

Mitchell led a balanced attack as Jarrett Allen added 16 points and 14 rebounds, Caris LeVert scored 16 off the bench, Evan Mobley scored 15, Darius Garland had 14 and Ty Jerome 11.

The 1976-77 Cavaliers started their season 8-0.

Zion Williamson scored 29 points to lead the Pelicans, while Jose Alvarado scored 27, Brandon Ingram had 20, Brandon Boston Jr. had 14, Javonte Green added 11 and Yves Missi 10.

Allen and Mobley had four points each and Garland and Mitchell each made a 3-pointer as the Cavs broke a 59-all halftime tie with a 16-4 run.

The Pelicans closed within seven before Garland made two 3-pointers and Sam Merrill made one to help Cleveland open a 97-81 lead. New Orleans trimmed the lead to 99-88 at the end of the third quarter.

Georges Niang's basket started the fourth-quarter scoring before Williamson scored six and Boston added five to get the Pelicans within five points.

The Cavs rebuilt the lead to 12, but Alvarado made consecutive 3-pointers to trim the lead to 112-106 midway through the period.

Mitchell and Allen answered with back-to-back baskets and the lead never shrunk to fewer than six points.

Cleveland scored the first eight points before Alvarado made two 3-pointers to help New Orleans take its first lead at 16-14.

The lead changed hands four more times before six Pelicans scored to help them expand the lead to 32-21.

LeVert scored four of the Cavs' final eight points and they trimmed the lead to 34-29 at the end of the quarter.

Green made a 3-pointer to start the second-quarter scoring before Cleveland closed within three points. The teams entered halftime tied at 59.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Cleveland   New Orleans
Donovan Mitchell 29 Scoring Zion Williamson 29
Darius Garland 9 Assists Jose Alvarado 5
Jarrett Allen 14 Rebounds Zion Williamson 8
Donovan Mitchell 6 Free Throws Made Zion Williamson 11
Ty Jerome 2 Steals Jose Alvarado 3
Evan Mobley 3 Blocks Yves Missi 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Cleveland 131 54.2 17-35 10-13 33 46 10 6 13
New Orleans 122 47.7 13-27 25-28 21 33 8 8 10
Upcoming Games
  • New Orleans will play their next game on the road against Orlando. The Pelicans have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .333 after a loss.
  • Cleveland will play their next game at home against Golden State. The Cavaliers have a W/L % of 1.000 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.