WASHINGTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 of his 48 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 15-point deficit in the final period to a 130-126 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
The Cavaliers went 15 of 53 from 3-point range, with Darius Garland going 0 for 11, but Mitchell connected from long range to tie the game at 122. Then he put Cleveland ahead to stay, scoring inside with 60 seconds remaining.
With the Cavaliers still up 124-122, Washington's Marvin Bagley III rebounded a miss, but Mitchell tied him up, forcing a jump ball. The 6-foot-11 Bagley has 8 inches on Mitchell, but both players mistimed their jumps and Lonzo Ball came up with possession for Cleveland. He made two free throws with 30.9 seconds left.
Mitchell's layup with 5.9 seconds to play put the Cavaliers up by six.
Cleveland attempted 34 3-pointers in the first half. The Cavaliers didn't shoot well but were still up 62-60 after two quarters. The third period was a fiasco for Cleveland that included Ball hitting nothing but glass on a breakaway layup attempt, and Nae'Quan Tomlin fouling out with 2:24 left in the period. Tomlin accumulated his six fouls in just 10:05 of playing time.
Washington led by as many as 17 points and was up 100-85 after three.
Mitchell started the fourth with 11 points in just over 2 1/2 minutes, cutting the margin to five with a 3-pointer. He was assessed a technical foul with 5:16 to play after making a layup, and he left the game then. But he quickly returned to play a decisive role down the stretch.
Bub Carrington and CJ McCollum scored 27 points apiece for Washington, and Jamir Watkins added a career-high 15.
Cavaliers: Host Charlotte on Sunday.
Wizards: At Indiana on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/nba
Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley, left, hangs from the rim after dunking against Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, left, looks to shoot against Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) prepare to shoot against Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Josh Giddey had 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, Zach Collins added 16 points off the bench and the Chicago Bulls erased a 13-point, second-half deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 129-126 on Friday night and snap a seven-game losing streak.
Coby White had 20 points including two free throws to seal the game as all five Chicago starters finished in double figures in scoring.
Kon Knueppel had a career-high 33 points and nine assists for the Hornets, who have lost four of their last five. Miles Bridges added 32 points.
The Hornets had a chance to tie with 10 seconds left when Knueppel launched a 3-point attempt from the top of the key. Officials initially called Collins for a foul, but then overturned the call after watching the replay and awarded the Bulls the ball ruling that Collins had not made contact with Knueppel.
White was then fouled and made two free throws with 8.2 seconds left.
The Hornets led 61-51 at halftime behind 20 points from Bridges and 17 from Knueppel, as they combined to go 7 of 11 from 3-point range.
Charlotte extended its lead to 13 in the third quarter before the Bulls battled back to take a 102-99 lead with 9 minutes on a breakaway and-one layup by Isaac Okoro. With 39.1 seconds remaining, Giddey drove and scored on a shot high off the glass to extend Chicago's lead to five.
The Bulls won despite the Hornets making 16 3s on 43.2% shooting. Chicago was just 10 of 28 from beyond the arc.
Josh Green played in his first game of the season for Charlotte after offseason shoulder surgery.
Chicago: Host the Pelicans on Sunday.
Charlotte: At Cleveland on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White, right, looks to pass the ball against Charlotte Hornets forward Drew Peterson, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) drives to the basket against Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, right, looks to shoot against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, right, controls the ball against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) looks to shoot over Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
