Mitchell scores 24 as Cavaliers use fast start to beat Hornets 94-87

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) moves the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, drives to the basket past Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) — Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) moves the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

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10:07 PM on Wednesday, January 21

By STEVE REED

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Evan Mobley added 14 points and 14 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped out to 21-point first-quarter lead and held on to beat the Charlotte Hornets 94-87 Wednesday night for their fifth road win in the last six games.

Jaylon Tyson scored 14 points and Jarod Allen added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who held the Hornets to 32 points in the first half on 26% shooting.

Brandon Miller finished with 24 points and Kon Knueppel had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Charlotte, which made just 8 of 46 3-point attempts and was outrebounded 60-47.

The Cavs bolted to a big lead in the first quarter after making 11 of 15 shots from the field to open the game.

Cleveland's stifling on-ball pressure defense repeatedly forced Charlotte into uncharacteristic turnovers and hurried shots.

Mitchell set the tone for the Cavaliers with 14 points in the first half, and Cleveland's defense never allowed Charlotte to get into any rhythm in the first two quarters. The Hornets tied a season low with 12 points in the second quarter and trailed 56-32 lead at the break.

The Hornets got their transition game going in the third quarter and cut the lead to 12 points behind back-to-back alley-oop passes from LaMelo Ball to Miller. Charlotte cut its deficit to four with 13 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Miller and driving layup by Knueppel, but ran out of time.

Ball strategy backfires

Hornets coach Charles Lee again brought LaMelo Ball off the bench on the first night of a back-to-back in an effort to preserve his body, but the move backfired as the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft had one of the worst nights of his career. Ball finished with four points on 1-of-15 shooting, going 0 of 10 from beyond the 3-point line.

Up next

Cavaliers: Host the Kings on Friday.

Hornets: Visit the Magic on Thursday.

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