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Mitchell scores 38 as Cavaliers beat Spurs 130-117

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 28 points and eight assists, Jaylon Tyson scored 16 of his 24 points in the third quarter and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 130-117 on Friday night.

Evan Mobley had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Dean Wade added 12 points and eight rebounds for Cleveland, which won for the second time in its last six games and snapped a two-game skid at Rocket Arena. Mobley and Wade also each had five assists.

The Cavaliers, who trailed by 10 throughout the first half, used a 23-4 run in the third quarter to pull in front 98-81. Tyson scored 11 points during the 5 1/2-minute surge that fueled a 44-point period, giving Cleveland a 108-91 lead.

Devin Vassell had 25 of his 28 points and made seven 3-pointers in the first half for the Spurs. De’Aaron Fox had 25 points and nine assists, and Keldon Johnson added 14 points off the bench.

Vassell’s 13 points in the first quarter and 25 in the opening half were season highs for San Antonio, which is 4-3 during its ongoing stretch of playing in nine cities over an 18-day span. The Spurs only play once at home between Nov. 21 and Dec. 16.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama missed his 10th straight game with left calf tightness, while guard Stephon Castle sat out his ninth in a row with left hip soreness. Coach Mitch Johnson said both are “definitely progressing in the right direction.”

Center Luke Kornet also was inactive after spraining his left ankle Thursday in Orlando.

The Cavaliers were without three starters in point guard Darius Garland (left great toe soreness), center Jarrett Allen (right third finger strain) and small forward Sam Merrill (right hand sprain).

ROCKETS 117, SUNS 98

HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant had 28 points to become the eighth player in NBA history to score 31,000 career points as the Houston Rockets rolled to a 117-98 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

CELTICS 126, LAKERS 105

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Boston cruised past short-handed Los Angeles, playing without LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

MAGIC 106, HEAT 105

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Jalen Suggs added 22 and Orlando beat Mimi when Bam Adebayo missed a jumper at the buzzer.

KNICKS 146, JAZZ 112

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 33 points, including a 3-pointer that capped New York’s opening 23-point run — the largest in the NBA since detailed play-by-play for all four quarters began in 1997 — in a rout of Utah.

NUGGETS 134, HAWKS 133

ATLANTA (AP) — Nikola Jokic scored 39 points and Denver rallied from 23 points down with a big fourth quarter to beat Atlanta.

HORNETS 111, RAPTORS 86

TORONTO (AP) — Kon Knueppel hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points and Charlotte beat Toronto to end a two-game losing streak.

GRIZZLIES 107, CLIPPERS 98

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Rookie Cedric Coward had 23 points and 14 rebounds, part of five Memphis players reaching double figures in a win over Los Angeles.

76ERS 116, BUCKS 101

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Quentin Grimes scored 22 points to lead a productive performance from Philadelphia’s bench in a win over Milwaukee.

PISTONS 122, TRAIL BLAZERS 116

DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and Detroit rallied to beat Portland.

PACERS 120, BULLS 105

CHICAGO (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 36 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 28 and Indiana beat struggling Chicago.

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