Game ID: 22300527
Brooklyn Nets @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET
Accor Arena, Paris, FR
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 26 28 24 33 111BKN 16 18 26 42 102
BKN @ CLE ScoutingBKN @ 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 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Garland missed 7 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 11 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 15 min since (89% of 17)
NEW Okoro 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Wade 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 8 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 12 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 16 min since (95% of 17)
NEW Okoro 26 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Wade 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 9 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 13 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 33 min since (91% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 20 min since (120% of 17)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 21 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 10 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 14 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 31 min since (86% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 22 min since (129% of 17)
CLE availability going into 1/11 · 3 days' restOUT Garland missed 11 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 15 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 32 min since (90% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 22 min since (130% of 17)
CLE availability going into 1/15 · 3 days' restOUT Garland missed 12 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 16 since 12/08, out tonight
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 13 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 17 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 1/11, returns tonight: 20 min (157% of 13)
NEW Merrill 17 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/20 · 2 days' restOUT Garland missed 14 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 18 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 1/17 after 2, 20 min since (157% of 13)
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 15 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 19 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 1/17 after 2, 20 min since (160% of 13)
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 26 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 15 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 12 min (77% of 16)
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 8 min (80% of 10)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BKN availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Simmons missed 27 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 16 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 1/02 after 2, 12 min since (77% of 16)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/27 after 6, 19 min since (179% of 10)
BKN availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 28 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 17 since 12/02, returns tonight: 6 min (34% of 17)
OUT Clowney missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 1/02 after 2, 9 min since (55% of 16)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/27 after 6, 13 min since (127% of 10)
BKN availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 29 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Walker IV back 1/05 after 17, 6 min since (34% of 17)
BACK Wilson back 1/02 after 2, 9 min since (55% of 16)
BACK Brooks back 1/02 after 2, 5 min since (52% of 10)
BKN availability going into 1/11 · 3 days' restOUT Simmons missed 30 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Walker IV back 1/05 after 17, 6 min since (34% of 17)
BACK Brooks back 1/02 after 2, 5 min since (52% of 10)
BKN availability going into 1/15 · 3 days' restOUT Simmons missed 31 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 7 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 3 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 7 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Walker IV back 1/05 after 17, 12 min since (70% of 17)
BACK Brooks back 1/02 after 2, 5 min since (52% of 10)
NEW Smith Jr. 19 to 24 min over the last 4
BKN availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 32 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 8 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 4 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Sharpe missed 2 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 8 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Walker IV back 1/05 after 17, 11 min since (66% of 17)
NEW Bridges 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Smith Jr. 19 to 27 min over the last 4
BKN availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 33 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 9 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 5 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Sharpe missed 3 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 9 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Walker IV back 1/05 after 17, 13 min since (74% of 17)
NEW Bridges 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Claxton 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Smith Jr. 19 to 25 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 34 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 10 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 6 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Sharpe missed 4 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 10 since 12/29, out tonight
NEW Claxton 30 to 35 min over the last 5
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 110, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Allen at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Garland (11 straight), Eva. Mobley (15 straight). 3 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 41 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bridges at 22 and Claxton at 15 a game. Without Simmons (30 straight), Clowney (6 straight), Wilson (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to Brooklyn's 119 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-8 a night and Brooklyn plus-3. Call it Cleveland 119, Brooklyn 110.
1/01 @ TOR 121-124 — CLE notes
CLE lost 121-124. CLE shot 48% (43 of 89) to TOR's 48%, 12 of 36 from three, and got to the line 26 times to TOR's 40. LeVert led with 31 (12 of 20, 2 of 7 from three); Mitchell added 26, Allen 16. Q4 was theirs, 30-26, the deficit cut from 7 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 98-91 against them. Okoro's -17 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 vs WAS 140-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 140-101. CLE shot 53% (54 of 101) to WAS's 42%, 20 of 42 from three. The glass went 62-36 for them. Strus led with 24 (9 of 13, 6 of 8 from three); Mitchell added 22, LeVert 21. The hinge was Q3, 34-20: a lead of 12 became 26, and the lead reached 44. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
1/05 vs WAS 114-90 — CLE notes
CLE won 114-90. CLE shot 53% (41 of 77) to WAS's 42%, 16 of 33 from three, and went to the line 23 times to WAS's 15 — 16 points from the stripe to their 11. CLE turned it over 23 times to WAS's 16, and WAS turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 52-31 for them. Mitchell led with 26 (8 of 15, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Niang added 14, Allen 12. The hinge was Q3, 32-19: a lead of 12 became 25, and the lead reached 29. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/07 vs SAS 117-115 — CLE notes
CLE won 117-115. CLE shot 49% (43 of 88) to SAS's 48%, 16 of 43 from three. CLE turned it over 16 times to SAS's 11, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. Allen led with 29 (11 of 19, 7 of 7 at the line); LeVert added 23, Merrill 18. The hinge was Q2, 34-24: CLE came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 16. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/11 vs BKN 111-102 — CLE notes
CLE won 111-102. CLE shot 39% (32 of 82) to BKN's 45%, 13 of 44 from three, and went to the line 43 times to BKN's 28 — 34 points from the stripe to their 20. CLE turned it over 11 times to BKN's 16. Mitchell led with 45 (15 of 30, 4 of 12 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); LeVert added 21, Allen 12. The hinge was Q1, 26-16: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
1/15 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and LeVert at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Garland (12 straight), Eva. Mobley (16 straight). 3 days' rest. Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; White at 24 and DeRozan at 23 a game. Without Craig (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-11 a night and Chicago minus-1 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 106 a night to Chicago's 116. Call it Cleveland 117, Chicago 111.
1/17 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 100, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and LeVert at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Garland (13 straight), Eva. Mobley (17 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 121, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Lillard at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Crowder (31 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 100 a night to Milwaukee's 121 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-12 a night and Milwaukee plus-2. Call it Cleveland 119, Milwaukee 115, Milwaukee keeping it close.
1/20 @ ATL — 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 106 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Young at 22 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Hunter (14 straight), Krejčí (13 straight), Fernando (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 99, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Allen at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Garland (14 straight), Eva. Mobley (18 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-11 a night and Atlanta minus-3 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 99 a night to Atlanta's 113. Call it Cleveland 117, Atlanta 109.
1/22 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 20 and Carter Jr. at 19 a game. Without Gar. Harris (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Allen at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Garland (15 straight), Eva. Mobley (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 36 percent from three to Orlando's 29 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-8 a night and Orlando plus-2. Call it Cleveland 111, Orlando 107, Orlando keeping it close.
1/02 @ NOP 85-112 — BKN notes
BKN lost 85-112. BKN took 10 more shots (98 to 88), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to NOP's 47%, 11 of 43 from three, and got to the line 8 times to NOP's 18. The glass went 43-53 against them. Johnson led with 17 (6 of 12, 5 of 9 from three); Bridges added 13, Sharpe 12. Q4 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 85-58 against them. Dinwiddie's -25 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 @ HOU 101-112 — BKN notes
BKN lost 101-112. BKN took 17 more shots (93 to 76), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to HOU's 49%, 13 of 44 from three. BKN turned it over 8 times to HOU's 16. Bridges led with 15 (5 of 18, 3 of 12 from three); Johnson added 15, O'Neale 13. Q2 was theirs, 28-23, turning a 4-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-73 against them. Bridges's -19 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 vs OKC 124-115 — BKN notes
BKN won 124-115. BKN shot 45% (41 of 91) to OKC's 54%, 14 of 39 from three, and went to the line 33 times to OKC's 24 — 28 points from the stripe to their 16. The glass went 51-36 for them. Claxton led with 23 (8 of 11, 7 of 10 at the line); Dinwiddie added 23, Thomas 19. The hinge was Q1, 39-21: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 32. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/07 vs POR 127-134 — BKN notes
BKN lost 127-134 in 1 overtime. BKN shot 51% (46 of 91) to POR's 47%, 14 of 37 from three. BKN turned it over 15 times to POR's 9. Bridges led with 42 (15 of 26, 4 of 8 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Johnson added 17, Claxton 16. Q3 was theirs, 41-35, but the other 4 periods went 99-86 against them. They led by as many as 10. Smith Jr.'s -19 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/11 @ CLE 102-111 — BKN notes
BKN lost 102-111. BKN shot 45% (37 of 82) to CLE's 39%, 8 of 27 from three, and got to the line 28 times to CLE's 43. BKN turned it over 16 times to CLE's 11, and CLE turned those into 11 steals. Bridges led with 26 (6 of 18, 2 of 6 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Thomas added 26, Walker IV 20. Q4 was theirs, 42-33, the deficit cut from 18 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 78-60 against them. Dinwiddie's -20 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/15 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Claxton at 14 a game. Without Simmons (31 straight), Clowney (7 straight), Wilson (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Adebayo at 24 and Herro at 19 a game. Without Butler III (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 107 a night to Brooklyn's 117 and the arc, Miami at 37 percent from three to Brooklyn's 32. Call it Brooklyn 113, Miami 112, Miami keeping it close.
1/17 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 124, shooting 39 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Simons at 19 and Grant at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Sharpe (2 straight), Ayton (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bridges at 25 and Thomas at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Simmons (32 straight), Clowney (8 straight), Wilson (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-3 a night and Portland minus-9 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 114 a night to Portland's 124. Call it Brooklyn 115, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
1/19 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 25 and Russell at 22 a game. Without Reddish (2 straight), Vincent (14 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bridges at 26 and Thomas at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Simmons (33 straight), Clowney (9 straight), Wilson (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 41 percent from three to Brooklyn's 32 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 112 a night to the Lakers' 121. Call it the Lakers 117, Brooklyn 114, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/21 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 54 percent and 47 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 29 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Zubac (2 straight), Tucker (24 straight). 4 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 26 and Thomas at 20 a game. Without Simmons (34 straight), Clowney (10 straight), Wilson (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 47 percent from three to Brooklyn's 33 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-2 a night and Brooklyn minus-3. Call it the Clippers 119, Brooklyn 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BKNCJ C. Johnson
CT C. Thomas
DF D. Finney-Smith
DS D. Smith Jr.
HG H. Giles III
LW L. Walker IV
MB M. Bridges
NC N. Claxton
RO R. O'Neale
SD S. Dinwiddie
TW T. Watford
CLECL C. LeVert
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
BKN/CLE 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
Donovan Mitchell scores season-high 45 points, Cavaliers beat Nets 111-102 in Paris
PARIS -- — Donovan Mitchell scored a season-high 45 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 111-102 on Thursday in the NBA's third regular-season game in Paris.
Mitchell had his 16th 40-point game in just two seasons in Cleveland. He added 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals, joining LeBron James as the only Cavaliers with at least 45 points, 10 boards, five assists and three steals in a game.
He'd like to join James on the list of U.S. men's basketball gold medalists when Paris hosts the Olympics this summer.
“I’d love to come back and play in the Olympics,” Mitchell said. “This city is a very electric basketball city.”
Mitchell’s quick start sent the Cavaliers to a lead they would never lose and he scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, making four 3-pointers after going 0 for 6 through three, to keep the Nets from coming all the way back after cutting a 26-point deficit to single digits.
“We did some really good things in the second half and his ability to just put that ball in the hole is a difference maker,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said.
Caris LeVert added 21 points in Cleveland’s first time playing outside North America in the regular season, while Jarrett Allen had 12 points and 12 rebounds in his career-best eighth straight double-double. The Cavaliers won their fourth straight, improving to 9-3 since Dec. 16.
Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas each scored 26 points for the Nets, who matched their worst half of the season with 34 points in the first half and have lost 12 of 15. Lonnie Walker IV added 20 points, providing energy off the bench with starters Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith both ailing and playing limited minutes.
The Nets' struggles kept the NBA from delivering much of a show in front of a crowd that included French soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé and former NBA stars Tony Parker and Joakim Noah.
But better basketball is ahead.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that the United States, which has won the last four Olympic gold medals in men's basketball, could send a powerhouse roster this summer.
“I think a love of competition and a love of this market, seemingly all the marquee U.S. NBA players want to participate,” Silver said during a news conference before the game.
He added that the NBA expects to return to France next season , perhaps with the teams selected playing multiple games. Headed by No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama , France had a record 14 players on opening-night rosters this season and has become one of the league's most important markets, ranking No. 1 in Europe and the Middle East for sales of NBA-branded merchandise.
Mitchell scored the game's first six points and Cleveland raced to a 16-4 lead. It was 54-34 at halftime and the Cavs took their largest lead when Mitchell's layup made it 60-34 early in the third.
“I think Donovan came out ready for the moment,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We talked about beforehand how special this game was to be a part of, what it means for the NBA to select you to come over here and represent the league and the game of basketball on a worldwide stage, and I thought Donovan was phenomenal at giving the audience and us what they came to see and what we needed to go and win the game.”
Cleveland's Tristan Thompson was ejected early in the fourth quarter for flagrantly fouling Nic Claxton after the Nets center had dunked and taunted the veteran center.
The Cavs, playing without Evan Mobley (knee surgery) and Darius Garland (broken jaw), played the final three quarters without starting guard Max Strus because of right knee soreness.