Donovan Mitchell pumped in 35 points and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers won their third straight, pounding the Detroit Pistons 116-95 on Monday night.
Mitchell made 13 of 18 from the field and was 7 of 8 at the free-throw line. Jarrett Allen added 20 points and seven rebounds, while Evan Mobley contributed 15 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
De’Andre Hunter added 13 points, five rebounds and six assists, and Sam Merrill tossed in 11 points for Cleveland, which led by 22 at halftime. The Cavaliers have defeated the Pistons in 13 of their last 14 meetings.
Detroit star guard Cade Cunningham was held to 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting. He also committed five turnovers.
Ronald Holland II and Tolu Smith added 11 points apiece off the bench while Tobias Harris chipped in 10.
The Cavaliers scored the last 11 points of the first quarter to take a 33-24 lead. Mitchell supplied all but two of those Cleveland points.
Following a pair of free throws by Cunningham cut Cleveland’s lead to 33-26, the Cavaliers reeled off 14 unanswered points. Mobley scored the first four of those points. Dean Wade scored five of the next seven points and Merrill capped it off with a 3-pointer.
A Duncan Robinson layup ended that outburst.
Detroit pulled within 15 points late in the half but the Cavaliers finished it with an 8-1 run for a 63-41 halftime lead. Cleveland had four players in double figures by the break, led by Allen’s 14 points.
It only got uglier for the home team at the start of the second half. The Cavaliers reeled off an 11-2 run to take a 74-43 lead. Mitchell had five points and an assist during that span. Hunter capped it off with a layup before Cunningham answered with a 3-pointer.
Cleveland maintained a lead of at least 22 points the rest of the quarter and took a 90-66 advantage into the fourth.
Mobley opened the final quarter with a 3-pointer before both teams soon emptied their benches.
