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abr 09 2026CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 122-116 in NBA action, powered by 31 points from Donovan Mitchell and dominant interior play from Evan Mobley, who recorded 22 points and 19 rebounds. The victory allows Cleveland to solidify their strong moment in the Eastern Conference, where they have won four consecutive games and seven of their last eight.
The game started with an offensive pace from both teams. The Atlanta Hawks found good solutions in transition and with their bench players, which allowed them to stay competitive throughout the first half. A dunk by Dyson Daniels with 57 seconds left before halftime gave Atlanta a 67-56 advantage, leaving Cleveland in a tough spot heading into the break.
However, the game changed completely in the final stretch of the second quarter and the start of the third. The Cleveland Cavaliers responded with a 17-3 run that transformed the game's momentum. From that point on, the home team took control thanks to Donovan Mitchell's offensive leadership and Evan Mobley's impact in the paint, who dominated the boards and punished opponents near the basket.
The third quarter was decisive for Cleveland's victory. The Cavaliers posted a dominant 44-20 quarter that allowed them to build a 104-87 lead heading into the fourth. James Harden also contributed in that stretch, adding 21 points to bolster the Ohio team's offense.
The Atlanta Hawks didn't give up in the final period. The visiting team responded with an 18-2 run, in which Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored seven of his 25 points, while Jonathan Kuminga added 24 points off the bench to keep the Hawks in the game.
The finish tightened when a Kuminga dunk cut the deficit to 118-116. Atlanta even had a chance to tie, but Alexander-Walker turned the ball over in the paint, allowing Jarrett Allen to record the steal. On the next possession, Donovan Mitchell sealed the game from the free throw line, securing the Cavaliers' victory.
Beyond the win, Mitchell reached another statistical milestone in his time with Cleveland: it was his 200th regular season game with at least 20 points since arriving at the franchise four years ago, making him the fifth player in Cavaliers history to reach that mark.
With this NBA victory, the Cleveland Cavaliers (51-29) ensure they finish at least in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and sit just half a game behind New York in the race for third place. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks (45-35) suffer their second consecutive loss and continue fighting to avoid the play-in tournament zone.
