CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell scored 48 points, including 24 in the fourth quarter, as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from 15 down to edge the Washington Wizards 130-126 on Friday night. The Wizards entered the game 3-20.
Mitchell’s fourth-quarter total represented the highest-scoring period by any NBA player this season, surpassing the 22 points recorded by Orlando’s Jett Howard against Boston on Nov. 23. “You’re playing a team that’s 3-and-whatever, and you’re down 15; you can tuck your tails and give in,” Mitchell told reporters. “But we found a way.”
Pacers Keep Mathews, Waive Robinson-Earl
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers retained guard Garrison Mathews and waived forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl in a roster shuffle this week. Head coach Rick Carlisle said the move focused on spacing and offensive pressure. “We know he has gravity,” Carlisle told the Indianapolis Star. “If you don’t guard him, he’s gonna score.”
Bulls Refute Claims of Draft-Night Inactivity
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls pushed back against suggestions they declined opportunities to trade up during the draft, after New Orleans executive Joe Dumars said multiple teams, including Chicago, were involved when the Pelicans struck a deal with Atlanta to select Maryland center Derik Queen. A high-ranking Bulls official told the Chicago Sun-Times the Pelicans never approached Chicago and that the Bulls would have accepted the offer had it been made, leaving the organization frustrated with the public narrative.
Source: Hoops Wire
