Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points and Darius Garland had 20 points and seven assists in his first game since Nov. 10, to power the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 120-109 win over the visiting Indiana Pacers in an NBA Cup matchup Friday night.
Garland played 27 minutes and made 3-of-4 3-point attempts and 7-of-7 free throws in his return from a five-game absence with a left great toe injury. The two-time All-Star point guard scored 13 in the second quarter when Cleveland went ahead for good.
Andrew Nembhard scored a career-high 32 points with eight assists for the Pacers, who also received 26 points and nine rebounds from Pascal Siakam and 21 points from Bennedict Mathurin. The Cavaliers are 2-1 in East Group A and Indiana is 0-2.
Cleveland is 3-2 on a six-game homestand, its longest of the season. Evan Mobley had 22 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots, De’Andre Hunter added 20 points and Jaylon Tyson scored 14 after being sidelined with a concussion since Nov. 12.
The Pacers, who got as close as eight points in the fourth, are 0-9 on the road and have lost nine of their last 10 games overall. T.J. McConnell had 10 points off their bench, which outscored the Cavaliers’ reserves 25-12.
Mitchell erupted for 14 points in the third, allowing Cleveland to build a commanding 100-81 lead. Nembhard had 12 as the Pacers were outscored 38-26 in the quarter.
The Cavaliers held a 62-55 advantage at halftime, fueled by 18 points from Garland and 12 from both Mitchell and Mobley. Siakam had 16 points and six rebounds for Indiana, while Mathurin and Nembhard each scored 14.
Mobley and Nembhard scored 12 points apiece in the first, which ended with Cleveland up 33-31 following seven ties and six lead changes. There were nine ties and 10 lead changes in the opening half.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (right finger strain) was inactive to rest his lingering injury, but is expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Pacers forwards Aaron Nesmith (left knee sprain) and Obi Toppin (right foot stress fracture) are out indefinitely.
