Donovan Mitchell erupted for 48 points to spark a late Cavaliers comeback as Cleveland stunned the Washington Wizards 130-126. Mitchell poured in eight made threes and keyed a fourth-quarter surge that flipped the momentum after the Cavaliers trailed by as many as 17 late in the third.
Evan Mobley contributed a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double, and Darius Garland added 18 points to help Cleveland rally. The Cavaliers fell behind early in the fourth but answered Washington’s push with a decisive stretch, including Mitchell’s game-tying three and a go-ahead layup with 60 seconds left. Mobley then iced the win with two free throws and Mitchell sealed it with another layup in the final seconds.
Washington carried a two-point halftime edge, then opened the third with a 14-2 run capped by CJ McCollum and Bub Carrington trading triples to push the Wizards ahead 74-64. Bagley III supplied 15 points and 13 rebounds for Washington, while Kyshawn George and Jamir Watkins each added 15 and Tristan Vukčević chipped in 14. The Wizards extended their lead to 16 after Bagley’s five straight points and Will Riley’s dunk, but Cleveland closed the quarter strong and trimmed the deficit to single digits.
The Wizards, led by McCollum and Carrington, held off several Cavaliers bursts until Mitchell and Garland sparked the late surge. Washington briefly regained a cushion at 122-119 with 2:31 left, but Mitchell answered with a pivotal three and finished the night with the decisive baskets to secure the comeback. Earlier in the game, Mitchell capped the opening quarter with back-to-back threes as Cleveland opened a 35-24 advantage before the second period.
Washington’s CJ McCollum and Bub Carrington each finished with 27 points to pace the Wizards, while Bagley had a double-double. Kyshawn George and Jamir Watkins reached 15, and Tristan Vukčević added 14 in a competitive matchup that featured multiple lead changes and a dramatic finish.
The Cavaliers outscored Washington 45-26 in the final period to complete the rally, underscoring Cleveland’s resilience and Mitchell’s season-best performance. -- Field Level Media
