Jarrett Allen had team highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 127-119 win over the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
Donovan Mitchell added 22 points and 13 assists for Cleveland, which snapped its three-game losing streak. Isaac Okoro scored 18 points and Dean Wade 16.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 35 points and 10 assists, while Dejounte Murray tallied 21 points. De’Andre Hunter added 18 points for Atlanta, which lost its sixth game in its last seven contests. Onyeka Okongwu scored 16 points and reserve center Bruno Fernando totaled 13 off the bench.
The game was controlled by Cleveland, which beat Atlanta for the second time this season.
Hunter connected on a 3-pointer 43 seconds into the game to give Atlanta a 3-2 lead. Cleveland’s Wade responded with a triple, which gave the Cavaliers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The first half was dominated by Cleveland from the onset, with the Cavs jumping to a 16-3 lead four minutes in and leading 41-28 after one quarter.
The Cavaliers’ offense continued to score at ease in the second quarter, leading by as many as 23 with 2:11 left, when Wade knocked down a triple to push the Cavaliers’ lead to 66-43.
Cleveland led 70-52 at the half, paced by Allen, who scored 21 points. Wade added 12 for the Cavaliers, while Young led the Hawks with 12.
The Hawks cut the deficit to six on a Young jumper with 9:59 remaining in the fourth quarter but couldn’t get any closer.
Atlanta played with a depleted roster Saturday, as Clint Capela (knee) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) were scratched before the game.
The Cavaliers played without Darius Garland, who broke his jaw against Boston on Thursday. They also were without Evan Mobley, who will miss six to eight weeks with a knee injury.
The two teams will meet again on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
–Field Level Media