Mitchell scores 30 points as the Cavaliers beat the Hornets 139-132 to end a 3-game losing streak

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and De’Andre Hunter had 15 of his 27 in the second half, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 139-132 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

Darius Garland added 27 points and 10 assists for Cleveland, which pulled away in the second half to snap a three-game losing streak. The Cavaliers also had lost three straight at home and are 2-5 at Rocket Arena since Nov. 30.

LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 23 points and nine assists, making six 3-pointers. Rookie Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller each had 20 points, while Moussa Diabate grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds.

Hunter gave the Cavaliers a big boost early in the third quarter, remaining on the court after being bloodied by a flagrant foul to his face by Diabate. He made both free throws, then a 3-pointer on the subsequent possession to push their lead to 98-85.

Dean Wade chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which took its largest advantage at 131-112. Lonzo Ball had six points and seven assists in the middle contest of a three-game homestand that precedes the Cavaliers’ Christmas Day game at New York.

Mitchell ended the first half by banking in a 28-footer at the horn, giving him 18 points and the Cavaliers a 70-63 advantage. Garland scored 17 points, while Knueppel and Ball each had 15 for Charlotte.

There were 12 lead changes and 10 ties before intermission, but neither team went up by double digits.

Hornets center Mason Plumlee exited with right groin soreness in the third and did not return. He started in place of rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner, who was a game-day scratch because of a sprained left elbow.

Hornets: Host Washington on Tuesday.

Cavaliers: Host New Orleans on Tuesday.

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

Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter and Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann wrestle for a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann, left, and guard Josh Green, right, defend against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Charlotte Hornets guard Lamelo Ball, right, drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) spins around Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Darren Raddysh had a goal and two assists to reach 100 career points, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1 on Monday night.

Oliver Bjorkstrand had a power-play goal for his 400th point, and Pontus Holmberg and Anthony Cirelli also scored for Tampa Bay. Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel each had two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves as the Lightning have won back-to-back games for the second time since the start of December.

Justin Faulk scored for St. Louis while Jordan Binnington finished with 13 saves. The Blues were held to two-or-fewer goals for the 21st time in 38 games this season.

Holmberg scored 21 seconds into the game, getting a stick on Raddysh's shot to deflect the puck past Binnington. It tied for the 13th fastest goal to start a game in Lightning franchise history and fastest since Steven Stamkos scored at 20 seconds on March 16, 2024.

Raddysh scored on the power play at 9:12 of the first period when his shot from the center point hit Faulk and caromed into the net.

Faulk cut the Lightning lead in half at 6:43 of the second, but Cirelli answered that 1:18 later getting a stick from the middle slot on Raddysh's shot. Raddysh became the second-fastest defenseman in Lightning history to reach 100 career points in his 206th game.

Bjorkstrand scored Tampa Bay’s second power-play goal of the game at 5:36 of the third period.

St. Louis: Host Nashville Predators on Saturday

Tampa Bay: At Florida Panthers on Saturday

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save on a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) plays the puck against St. Louis Blues center Pius Suter (22) and defenseman Philip Broberg (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues with right wing Pontus Holmberg (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) knocks Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) off the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues with teammates, including center Brayden Point (21), right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) and right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)