Game ID: 22300336
Atlanta Hawks @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 41 29 22 35 127ATL 28 24 29 38 119
ATL @ CLE ScoutingATL @ CLE Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT LeVert missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 14 min since (68% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT LeVert missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 19 min since (95% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 6 min since (37% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 8 min since (76% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backOUT Eva. Mobley missed 2 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT LeVert missed 4 since 12/02, returns tonight: 23 min (81% of 28)
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 23 min since (110% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 10 min since (58% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 13 min since (123% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Eva. Mobley missed 3 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 12/12 after 4, 23 min since (81% of 28)
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 22 min since (107% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 10 min since (58% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 13 min since (120% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restOUT Eva. Mobley missed 4 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 12/12, returns tonight: 8 min (47% of 17)
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 12/11, returns tonight: 15 min (119% of 13)
BACK LeVert back 12/12 after 4, 29 min since (102% of 28)
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 21 min since (101% of 20)
CLE availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Eva. Mobley missed 5 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 12/12 after 4, 28 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 12/16 after 2, 8 min since (47% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/16 after 3, 15 min since (119% of 13)
CLE availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 6 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 12/12 after 4, 28 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 12/16 after 2, 16 min since (95% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/16 after 3, 12 min since (94% of 13)
CLE availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Garland missed 3 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 7 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 12/12 after 4, 27 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 12/16 after 2, 21 min since (124% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/16 after 3, 16 min since (128% of 13)
CLE availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Garland missed 4 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 8 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 12/16 after 2, 19 min since (111% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/16 after 3, 19 min since (153% of 13)
ATL availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 3 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 16 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 16 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 3 since 11/30, returns tonight: 12 min (115% of 11)
OUT Mills missed 5 since 11/26, returns tonight: 17 min (157% of 11)
ATL availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Johnson missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 4 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 17 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 17 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Forrest back 12/08 after 3, 12 min since (115% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/08 after 5, 17 min since (157% of 11)
ATL availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 7 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 18 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 18 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Forrest back 12/08 after 3, 12 min since (115% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/08 after 5, 17 min since (157% of 11)
ATL availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Hunter missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 6 since 11/30, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 19 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 19 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 11 min (99% of 11)
OUT Mills missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 1 min (10% of 11)
NEW Bey 33 to 38 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 12/16 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Hunter missed 3 since 12/11, returns tonight: 26 min (89% of 30)
OUT Gueye missed 20 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 20 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 12/15 after 6, 1 min since (7% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 12/08 after 3, 12 min since (107% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/08 after 5, 9 min since (83% of 11)
NEW Bey 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Capela 26 to 31 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 21 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 21 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 12/16 after 3, 26 min since (89% of 30)
BACK Fernando back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (56% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 12/08 after 3, 10 min since (94% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/08 after 5, 10 min since (95% of 11)
NEW Bey 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Capela 26 to 32 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 2 since 12/16, returns tonight: 30 min (97% of 30)
OUT Gueye missed 22 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 22 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 12/16 after 3, 28 min since (94% of 30)
BACK Fernando back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (56% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 12/15 after 2, 9 min since (83% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/15 after 2, 7 min since (65% of 11)
NEW Bey 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Capela 26 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Matthews 12 to 17 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 12 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 23 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 23 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 12 min (115% of 11)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/20 after 2, 30 min since (97% of 30)
BACK Hunter back 12/16 after 3, 28 min since (94% of 30)
ATL availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 13 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 24 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 24 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Bogdanović back 12/20 after 2, 32 min since (107% of 30)
BACK Hunter back 12/16 after 3, 28 min since (94% of 30)
BACK Mills back 12/15 after 2, 9 min since (81% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Garland at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Eva. Mobley (4 straight), Merrill (2 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Bogdanović at 24 a game. Without Johnson (9 straight), Hunter (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to Atlanta's 121 and the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 14 times a game to Atlanta's 11. Call it Cleveland 118, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/08 @ MIA 111-99 — CLE notes
CLE won 111-99. CLE shot 46% (40 of 87) to MIA's 43%, 14 of 38 from three, and went to the line 26 times to MIA's 15 — 17 points from the stripe to their 10. CLE turned it over 13 times to MIA's 18. The glass went 51-37 for them. Mitchell led with 27 (9 of 17, 3 of 8 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Garland added 18, Niang 13. The hinge was Q3, 35-23: a lead of 1 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/11 @ ORL 94-104 — CLE notes
CLE lost 94-104. CLE shot 35% (30 of 85) to ORL's 46%, 9 of 40 from three, and went to the line 33 times to ORL's 25 — 25 points from the stripe to their 19. Garland led with 36 (11 of 23, 3 of 9 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Mitchell added 22, Thompson 10. Q1 was theirs, 29-22, but the other 3 periods went 82-65 against them. Okoro's -21 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/12 @ BOS 113-120 — CLE notes
CLE lost 113-120. CLE took 8 more shots (92 to 84), but shot 48% to BOS's 45%, 19 of 45 from three, and got to the line just 9 times against 18 fouls committed. The glass went 35-45 against them. Mitchell led with 29 (11 of 22, 5 of 13 from three); Garland added 26, Strus 17. Q1 was theirs, 31-21, but the other 3 periods went 99-82 against them. They led by as many as 15. Okoro's -15 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 @ BOS 107-116 — CLE notes
CLE lost 107-116. CLE shot 48% (40 of 83) to BOS's 51%, 11 of 33 from three. Mitchell led with 31 (12 of 24, 2 of 8 from three); LeVert added 26, Garland 19. Q3 was theirs, 33-25, the deficit cut from 11 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 91-74 against them. Mitchell's -11 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/16 vs ATL 127-119 — CLE notes
CLE won 127-119. CLE shot 49% (49 of 101) to ATL's 48%, 16 of 42 from three, and got to the line 15 times to ATL's 25. The glass went 49-34 for them. Allen led with 25 (12 of 14); Mitchell added 22, Okoro 18. The hinge was Q1, 41-28: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/18 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 25 a game. Without Eva. Mobley (5 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 103, shooting 42 percent and 36 from three, 30 free throws a game; VanVleet at 18 and Sengun at 15 a game. Without Thompson (3 straight), Whitmore (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 30 free throws a game to Cleveland's 20 and the defense, Houston allowing 103 a night to Cleveland's 112. Call it Cleveland 110, Houston 108, Houston keeping it close.
12/20 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Garland at 27 a game. Without Garland (2 straight), Eva. Mobley (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sexton at 26 and Markkanen at 20 a game. Without Clarkson (4 straight), George (3 straight), Sensabaugh (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Cleveland 118, Utah 113.
12/21 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Merrill at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Garland (3 straight), Eva. Mobley (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 30 free throws a game; Ingram at 26 and McCollum at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Nance Jr. (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 30 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-6 a night and Cleveland minus-1. Call it New Orleans 119, Cleveland 115, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/23 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and White at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without LaVine (11 straight), Craig (3 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and LeVert at 17 a game. Without Mitchell (2 straight), Garland (4 straight), Eva. Mobley (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the defense, Chicago allowing 108 a night to Cleveland's 121. Call it Chicago 116, Cleveland 112, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/08 @ PHI 114-125 — ATL notes
ATL lost 114-125. ATL took 17 more shots (104 to 87), fed by 23 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to PHI's 48%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 21 times to PHI's 37. Hunter led with 24 (9 of 18, 4 of 7 from three); Bogdanović added 20, Murray 20. Q2 was theirs, 45-27, turning a 12-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 98-69 against them. Hunter's -13 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 vs DEN 122-129 — ATL notes
ATL lost 122-129. ATL took 8 more shots (96 to 88), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to DEN's 53%, 17 of 44 from three, and got to the line 18 times to DEN's 29. ATL turned it over 10 times to DEN's 16. The glass went 35-49 against them. Bogdanović led with 40 (14 of 24, 10 of 17 from three); Murray added 21, Young 19. Q4 was theirs, 36-26, the deficit cut from 17 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 103-86 against them. They led by as many as 11. Young's -10 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 @ TOR 128-135 — ATL notes
ATL lost 128-135. ATL took 13 more shots (100 to 87), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to TOR's 57%, 18 of 41 from three. ATL turned it over 7 times to TOR's 14. Young led with 35 (13 of 27, 4 of 9 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Murray added 20, Bogdanović 20. Q1 was theirs, 39-31, but the other 3 periods went 104-89 against them. They led by as many as 12. Capela's -17 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 @ TOR 125-104 — ATL notes
ATL won 125-104. ATL shot 51% (52 of 101) to TOR's 52%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 6 times to TOR's 25. The glass went 55-32 for them. Young led with 38 (15 of 29, 7 of 15 from three); Bogdanović added 20, Capela 18. The hinge was Q4, 38-26: a lead of 9 became 21, and the lead reached 24. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/16 @ CLE 119-127 — ATL notes
ATL lost 119-127. ATL shot 48% (41 of 85) to CLE's 49%, 15 of 36 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CLE's 15 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 34-49 against them. Young led with 35 (11 of 21, 7 of 12 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Murray added 21, Hunter 18. Q3 was theirs, 29-22, the deficit cut from 18 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 105-90 against them. Okongwu's -15 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Young at 32 and Bogdanović at 25 a game. Without Johnson (10 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 131, shooting 46 percent and 26 from three, 27 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 20 and Cunningham at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Duren (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 39 percent from three to Detroit's 26 and the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-1 a night and Detroit minus-13. Call it Atlanta 125, Detroit 114, Atlanta by 11.
12/20 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; VanVleet at 18 and Sengun at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thompson (4 straight), Whitmore (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Young at 32 and Bogdanović at 27 a game. Without Johnson (11 straight), Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 109 a night to Atlanta's 124 and the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Atlanta's 19. Call it Houston 119, Atlanta 114.
12/22 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Jaquez Jr. at 15 a game. Without Jović (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Young at 34 and Bogdanović at 21 a game. Without Johnson (12 straight), Fernando (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 112 a night to Atlanta's 123 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-3 a night and Miami minus-2. Call it Miami 120, Atlanta 117, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/23 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Young at 33 and Bogdanović at 22 a game. Without Johnson (13 straight), Fernando (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 24 and Bane at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Smart (16 straight), Jackson (2 straight), Kennard (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-5 and the defense, Memphis allowing 110 a night to Atlanta's 121. Call it Atlanta 118, Memphis 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
CP C. Porter Jr.
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
ATLBF B. Fernando
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Murray
GM G. Mathews
OO O. Okongwu
PM P. Mills
SB S. Bey
TF T. Forrest
TY T. Young
WM W. Matthews
CLE/ATL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jarrett Allen has 25 points and 14 rebounds, Cavaliers beat Hawks 127-119
CLEVELAND -- — Jarrett Allen had 25 points and 14 rebounds, Donovan Mitchell added 22 points and a career-high 13 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks 127-119 on Saturday night.
The Cavaliers built a 23-point lead in the first half of their first game since announcing that starting power forward Evan Mobley and former All-Star point guard Darius Garland will likely be out until February. Cleveland snapped a three-game losing streak.
“I knew that our team could do it because we have the next-man up mentality,” Allen said. “It was different with Donovan at point guard. He definitely facilitated tonight, and I think he took pride in it.”
Mobley, who is averaging 16.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, will undergo arthroscopic surgery Monday on his left knee. Garland is slated to have a procedure to repair his jaw, which was broken Thursday in a collision with Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis .
“We’ve got to do it as a group,” Mitchell said. “We lost two of our dogs. This run we’re about to go on, it’s for them. We’re doing it together as a group.”
Allen had the highest-scoring quarter of his career with 17 points in the first — making eight field goals without a miss — and took advantage of the absence of Hawks center Clint Capela , who sat out his first game of the season with left knee soreness.
Isaac Okoro scored 18 points and Dean Wade had 16 points as both moved into the starting lineup for the Cavaliers, who scored a season-high 41 points in the first quarter. Caris LeVert added 14 points off the bench.
“Donovan got his teammates involved early and we’re going to need that,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He’s going to have to pick his spots, but he’s an elite scorer for a reason.”
Trae Young had 35 points and 10 assists for Atlanta, which has dropped six of seven. Dejounte Murray scored 21 points and De’Andre Hunter had 18 points in his return from a three-game absence with right knee discomfort.
The Hawks got as close as 96-90 early in the fourth on a Young 3-pointer, but Mitchell made consecutive 3s to push Cleveland’s advantage to 107-94.
“We dug ourselves too much of a hole,” Young said. “It’s more about effort and energy, and sometimes about giving a crap. That’s what got us back in the game. You can't win in this league only playing one quarter or three (well), you have to do all four."
Atlanta small forward Bogdan Bogdanovic , who sprained his right ankle Friday night in a 125-104 win in Toronto, did not play for the first time this season.