Cavaliers rout Wizards 148-115 to improve to 1-1 in NBA Cup

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Darius Garland had 20 points and nine assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Washington Wizards 148-115 on Friday night to improve to 1-1 in NBA Cup play.

Cleveland fell a point shy of matching the franchise record for a regulation game, set at Denver in a 149-135 victory last Dec. 28. The overall mark came in a 154-153 quadruple-overtime victory at home over the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 29, 1980. The Cavaliers also had 148 points at home in a December 1991 victory over Miami.

The Cavaliers have won three straight after dropping their Cup opener a week ago at home to Toronto, a game Mitchell missed because of hamstring tightness.

CJ McCollum scored 20 of his 25 points in the first half for Washington in its East Group A opener. The Wizards have lost seven straight to fall to 1-8.

Both teams are home Saturday night to complete back-to-backs.

Two days after Mitchell scored a season-high 46 points in a home victory over Philadelphia, Garland and Sam Merrill led Cleveland to a 76-60 advantage at the half. It was 109-87 after three quarters.

Garland played his second game after missing the first seven following surgery on his big toe to repair a turf toe injury. In his debut against the 76ers, he had eight points and four assists.

Garland and Merrill each had 14 points in the first half. Garland was 5 for 5 from the field in the half, hitting two 3-pointers, and making two free throws without a miss. Merrill was 5 of 6, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. He failed to scored in the second half.

Evan Mobley had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland. Jarrett Allen added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Tyrese Proctor scored 17 points. The Cavaliers had 25 offensive rebounds.

Alex Sarr had 20 points for Washington.

The NBA changed the score of the game on Saturday, adding a point to the Wizards' total to reflect a free throw by Tre Johnson in the second quarter that was erroneously recorded as a miss. Johnson finished with 19 points.

Cavaliers: Host Chicago on Saturday night.

Wizards: Host Dallas on Saturday night.

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

Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter, right, takes a shot against Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson (12) during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) dunks against Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III (35) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert, left, competes for a loose ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) attempts to make a shot against Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson (12) and Wizards center Alex Sarr during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) dunks over Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--

Axelspace Corporation (“Axelspace”), a leading developer and operator of microsatellites dedicated to realizing its vision of “Space within Your Reach,” has made a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jethi Software Development PLC (“Jethi”), an Ethiopian technology company, to cooperate on addressing social and development challenges through the utilization of satellite-based Earth observation (EO) data.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114413353/en/

The MoU was signed by Naol Debele, Chief Executive Officer of Jethi, and Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace. The signing ceremony, held in Ethiopia on January 13 (local time), was attended by representatives of the Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) of Ethiopia, members of the Jethi Board of Directors and invited guests, in an official and protocol capacity.

Axelspace positions the expansion of EO data utilization in emerging markets, including Africa, as a key medium- to long-term strategic priority. Through this collaboration, Axelspace aims to support locally driven, data-informed solutions.

Under the MoU, Axelspace will provide EO data and know-how for its utilization across priority sectors, including agriculture, environmental and forest conservation, disaster risk management and climate resilience, urban planning and infrastructure development. Jethi will lead the establishment of a local framework for EO data utilization in Ethiopia, coordinating with relevant stakeholders to integrate satellite data with local information and institutional requirements. The partnership aims to identify priority challenges, develop scalable solutions that combine EO data with local information, and foster the growth of a sustainable ecosystem for satellite data utilization in Ethiopia.

Axelspace is participating in the “Emerging Countries Working Group”, which was launched in 2024 by Cross U, a general incorporated association, to promote space business co-creation between Japan and African countries.

“With the economic development of emerging countries, including those in Africa, the demand for satellite data utilization is expected to increase significantly,” said Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace. “We will work to build win-win relationships that create new value with local public and private sector partners, leveraging Japan’s advanced technological capabilities and expertise to contribute to the long-term development of a platform for satellite data utilization.”

For the full press release, please visit: https://www.axelspace.com/news/mou_ethiopia/

Naol Debele, Chief Executive Officer of Jethi (left), and Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace, at the signing ceremony on January 13 in Ethiopia