No Donovan Mitchell? No problem for Cavaliers as they tie their team record with 15th straight win

CLEVELAND (AP) — The wins and accomplishments keep piling up for the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. They’ve been so frequent that players are having a hard time keeping track.

“What did we do? Oh, we clinched the Central Division,” center Jarrett Allen said, chuckling. “That’s something. We had fun tonight. We still celebrate the little things.”

There was nothing little about the Cavaliers’ 109-104 victory over Brooklyn on Tuesday.

Cleveland tied its franchise record for consecutive wins with 15 — after setting the mark in the first 15 games of the season — and is tied for the fifth-best start in NBA history at 55-10.

Even with All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (left groin soreness), sixth man De’Andre Hunter (illness) and sharpshooter Ty Jerome (rest) in street clothes on the bench, the Cavaliers rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half against the Nets.

All-Star point guard Darius Garland, who scored 18 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, said Mitchell’s message to him was concise during the comeback.

“Shoot the ball,” he said. “Quote, end quote.”

Having spent his entire career with Cleveland, Garland sought out team president of basketball operations Koby Altman in the locker room. The Cavaliers’ last division crown occurred before he was drafted in 2019.

“I asked Koby if there was going to be a banner in the practice facility,” Garland said. “We don’t take regular-season games lightly, but the reality is we haven’t won anything yet. The main thing, our main focus is trying to stay healthy.”

Injuries to Mitchell and Allen during the 2024 playoffs were a crushing blow to Cleveland in its five-game loss to eventual champion Boston in the East semifinals.

First-year coach Kenny Atkinson stressed that Mitchell’s current ailment is not serious and plans on continuing to give his key players nights off as the regular season winds down.

“To win 15 straight games at this juncture, there is fatigue, so it’s really quite an accomplishment,” Atkinson said. “After doing it our first 15 games, it’s remarkable. We want bigger things, but we’ll look back on this and say it’s a pretty big accomplishment.”

Next on the Cavaliers’ checklist is locking up the No. 1 seed in the East. They are eight games in front of the second-place Celtics with 17 remaining and hold a two-game advantage over West-leading Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA.

Cleveland’s home-court advantage has been overwhelming at Rocket Arena, where it also has the top mark in the league at 30-4.

“Their confidence and the swagger they’re playing with, you can see it in close games,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. “They’re very well coached and it’s fun to watch them play. It helps the business of the NBA.”

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Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson, right, fouls Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, center, as forward Cameron Johnson (2) looks on in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, center, passes between Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson, left, Nic Claxton, second from left, and Cam Thomas (24) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10), left, shoots in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) shoots as Brooklyn Nets guard Tyrese Martin (13) and forward Trendon Watford, center, defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson shouts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, left, who did not dress for the game, talks with teammate Darius Garland (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

NEW YORK (AP) — New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado has been suspended two games and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams has been suspended one game for their roles in a fight during the third quarter of Saturday night's game.

The NBA announced the suspensions, that come without pay, on Sunday.

Alvarado will miss the Pelicans' home game against the New York Knicks on Monday and their game at the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Williams will miss Monday night's game at the Washington Wizards.

The 7-foot-1 Williams and 6-foot Alvarado exchanged punches following a foul call on Alvarado. Phoenix won 123-114 for a two-game sweep of a back-to-back set between the teams in New Orleans.

Alvarado was trying to fight through a ball screen set by Williams to keep pressure on Suns sharpshooter Collin Gillespie, who had made his first five 3-point attempts of the game.

Alvarado pushed Williams out of the way while playing defense and was called for a foul. Williams then shoved Alvarado in the back. Alvarado turned toward Williams and the two exchanged words before grabbing each other and throwing punches. Both players landed right hands before being separated and then ejected.

Neither player commented after the game.

Phoenix coach Jordan Ott attributed the fight to competitiveness and fatigue.

“I saw it start, and then all of a sudden everyone jumped in,” Ott said. “Obviously, it happens. It just feels like the lack of sleep the second night of a back-to-back, something always tends to happen. Last night, there were a lot of free throws; tonight there wasn’t as much. They let us play tonight, which is something we enjoy. They got tangled up, and obviously they both got thrown out.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, left, and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) get into a scrum during the third quarter before both were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, center left, and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams, center right, get into a scrum during the third quarter before both were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, left, and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) get into a scrum during the third quarter before both were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams get into a scrum during the third quarter before both were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)