![NBA](https://a3.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/leagues/500/nba.png&w=40)
Memphis Grizzlies at Cleveland Cavaliers
· National Basketball AssociationEmbed this event in your website
Donovan Mitchell scores 29 points, Cavaliers beat Grizzlies 110-98 to close in on playoff berth
![GG Jackson reaches back for big dunk over Jarrett Allen](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/media/motion/2024/0410/ss_20240410_203458728_25459601318/ss_20240410_203458728_25459601318.jpg&w=900&h=360&scale=crop&location=origin)
All-Star shooting guard Mitchell, who has been bothered by left knee soreness for two months, also had eight assists in just his 10th game since Feb. 15. The Cavaliers have lost 11 of their last 17, but sit fourth in the Eastern Conference.
“It was time to get going and I felt really good tonight,” said Mitchell, who also broke his nose in mid-March. “The biggest cure for my knee is rest, but we don’t have time for that, so we have to find ways to adapt. I wanted to set the tone here.”
Cleveland would lock up a top-six finish and its second straight playoff appearance with a victory Friday over Indiana or a win Sunday over Charlotte. It also clinches if Philadelphia loses one of its two remaining games.
“It’s a great opportunity to control our destiny with all of these games at home,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “If we take care of what’s in front of us, we’ll be fine.”
Darius Garland had 16 points and nine assists, and Evan Mobley added 12 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots for Cleveland. The Cavaliers blew a 26-point lead in the second half of their previous game, a 120-118 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers.
“We really need all three of these games, but we’ll take it one at a time,” Garland said. “This group loves each other, so no matter what happens, this group has each other’s backs. That's the easiest part."
Jake LaRavia scored a career-high 32 and made eight 3-pointers, and rookie GG Jackson II had 22 points for injury-plagued Memphis, which has used an NBA-record 33 players this season. Scotty Pippen Jr. added 18 points and six assists.
The Grizzlies’ top four scorers — Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Jaren Jackson Jr. — were among their 12 players who are out with injuries. They dressed an NBA-minimum eight.
“It was one of those nights where anything I was throwing up was going in,” LaRavia said. “I’m playing with confidence in my abilities and I’m just trying to take advantage of my opportunities.”
Cleveland didn’t pull in front for good until midway through the third quarter at 62-59, when Mitchell fed Allen for a three-point play. Allen had 12 points and made all five of his field goal attempts in the period.
The Grizzlies held a 51-48 advantage at halftime, fueled by 21 points from LaRavia on a perfect 6-of-6 3-point shooting.
“Having a woe-is-me attitude isn’t going to help, but that hasn’t been a problem for us,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Our attitude has been fantastic all year.”
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Cavaliers: Host Indiana on Friday night.
Regular Season Series
CLE wins series 2-0
Matchup Prediction
Recent Plays
4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of Game | 98 - 110 |
4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of the 4th Quarter | 98 - 110 |
4th 3.1 | ![]() |
shot clock turnover | 98 - 110 |
4th 25.1 | ![]() |
Jack White bad pass (Pete Nance steals) | 98 - 110 |
4th 28.0 | ![]() |
Jack White offensive rebound | 98 - 110 |
Statistics
![]() |
![]() |
|
---|---|---|
33-84 | FG | 37-82 |
39.3 | Field Goal % | 45.1 |
14-32 | 3PT | 15-37 |
43.8 | Three Point % | 40.5 |
18-19 | FT | 21-29 |
94.7 | Free Throw % | 72.4 |
44 | Rebounds | 47 |
10 | Offensive Rebounds | 12 |
34 | Defensive Rebounds | 35 |
21 | Assists | 27 |
10 | Steals | 11 |
10 | Blocks | 10 |
13 | Turnovers | 13 |
3 | Team Turnovers | 3 |
16 | Total Turnovers | 16 |
1 | Technical Fouls | 2 |
1 | Total Technical Fouls | 2 |
0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
24 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 18 |
21 | Fast Break Points | 11 |
32 | Points in Paint | 38 |
21 | Fouls | 15 |
9 | Largest Lead | 20 |
Game Information
![](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/venues/nba/day/3417.jpg&w=743&h=311&scale=crop&cquality=100&location=origin)
Location: Cleveland, OH
Attendance: 19,432 · Capacity:
2023-24 Southwest Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
50 | 32 | .610 | - | L2 |
![]() |
49 | 33 | .598 | 1 | L1 |
![]() |
41 | 41 | .500 | 9 | W2 |
![]() |
27 | 55 | .329 | 23 | L5 |
![]() |
22 | 60 | .268 | 28 | W2 |
NBA News
![Inside the Paul George free agency showdown: How the Sixers landed the nine-time All-Star](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2024/0702/r1353382_576x324_16-9.jpg&w=360&scale=crop&location=origin)
Inside the Paul George free agency showdown: How the Sixers landed the nine-time All-Star
The Sixers' first attempt to land Paul George came a year ago, and they bided their time. Then, finally, came a meeting Sunday night.
![NBA free agency 2024: Latest signings, news, buzz and reports](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2024/0701/r1353258_1296x729_16-9.jpg&w=360&scale=crop&location=origin)
NBA free agency 2024: Latest signings, news, buzz and reports
All the deals we've seen so far -- including Klay Thompson's big move to the Mavs -- after a wild start to free agency.
![James Wiseman's best plays of the season](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/media/motion/2024/0702/ss_20240702_134933338_2597957/ss_20240702_134933338_2597957.jpg&w=360&scale=crop&location=origin)
James Wiseman's best plays of the season
Check out some of James Wiseman's best moments this past season after he signed a two-year deal with the Pacers.
![Sources: Pacers, James Wiseman agree to 2-year contract](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2023/0320/r1147513_1296x729_16-9.jpg&w=360&scale=crop&location=origin)
Sources: Pacers, James Wiseman agree to 2-year contract
The Pacers have agreed to a two-year contract with former No. 2 pick James Wiseman, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
![Early NBA contender tiers after an Eastern Conference superstar shakeup](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2024/0702/r1353566_576x324_16-9.jpg&w=360&scale=crop&location=origin)
Early NBA contender tiers after an Eastern Conference superstar shakeup
Here's where all 15 Eastern Conference teams land after some game-changing moves to start free agency.