Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points and the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 127-117 on Tuesday.
Darius Garland added 24 points and Evan Mobley added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers.
Pascal Siakam was the author of 23 points and while Montrealer Bennedict Mathurin totaled 19 points for the Pacers, who saw their six winning streak stopped. Myles Turner added 17 points.
The Cavaliers led 82-77 in the third quarter before going on a ten-point streak that included three-pointers from Max Strus, Georges Niang and Mobley. Cleveland led 100-89 after three quarters.
Indiana was able to cut its deficit to 111-106, but couldn’t get any closer.
With Indiana trailing 120-111, Mathurin lost his composure and was ejected with a double technical foul with 3:58 remaining. Mitchell made both technical free throws and Mobley made one of two free throws.
The Pacers ended the Cavaliers’ 12-game winning streak with a 108-93 win on Sunday.
Indiana was without Tyrese Haliburton, who was sidelined with a left groin strain.
OKC has diminished Sixers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder won 118-102 against a weakened 76ers in Philadelphia, heading into a chance for revenge against the Cavaliers.
Gilgeous-Alexander also had nine assists, two steals and a block.
Jalen Williams provided 24 points for the Thunder, who won their third straight victory.
OKC has lost just once in 19 games.
The downside? On January 8, the Cavaliers beat them 129-122 in Ohio, as the Thunder tried to win their 16th straight game.
The two teams will meet Thursday in Oklahoma City (7:30 p.m., Sportsnet +).
The Thunder are 33-6 atop the West, while the Cavaliers lead the East with a 33-5 record.
Cason Wallace had 18 points and Isaiah Joe 10.
Montreal’s Luguentz Dort had eight points, including two three-pointers in the first quarter. The athlete from Montreal-North shone with a differential of plus 30.
The list of absentees was numerous on the 76ers side: Joel Embiid (foot), Tyrese Maxey (hand), Paul George (ankle), Caleb Martin (groin), Andre Drummond (foot) and Kyle Lowry (hip), in particular.
Philadelphia native Justin Edwards set a career high with 25 points.
Former Raptors player Jeff Dowtin also scored a career-high 18 points.
Ricky Council did well in his first NBA start, putting up 13 points.
OKC was in control 32-11 in the first quarter, en route to a 58-43 lead at the half. Gilgeous-Alexander punctuated the second quarter with a steal and dunk combination.
Philadelphia dictated the third quarter (38-29), then it became even closer at the start of the last period (the Thunder’s lead was reduced to 91-87).
A long shot from Williams and a basket from Hartenstein gave the Thunder some room to maneuver, on the other hand.
Joe drew an offensive foul (he is third in the NBA in this aspect), shortly before making a three-point shot which gave his team a 106-92 lead. OKC then stayed on course to win.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
Suns 117 – Hawks 122
PHO: Devin Booker led his team with 35 points.
ATL: Trae Young had a game-high 43 points.
Kings 115 – Bucks 130
SAC: Domantas Sabonis (20 points and 10 rebounds) and De’Aaron Fox (20 points and 11 rebounds) scored twice. DeMar DeRozan totaled 28 points.
MIL: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a hat trick with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. Damian Lillard (24 points) and Brook Lopez (21 points) also contributed.
Pelicans 119 – Bulls 113
NO: Trey Murphy III was his club’s top scorer with 32 points.
CHI: Nikola Vucevic (22 points and 15 rebounds) and Josh Giddey (12 assists and 13 rebounds) scored doubles. Zach LaVine was the most productive with 25 points.
Nuggets – Mavericks
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Nets – Trail Blazers
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