Donovan Mitchell scores 32 points as Cavaliers beat Hornets 118-113 for 7th straight victory

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory and 12th win in 13 games.

Jared Allen had 25 points and 14 rebounds and James Harden added 18 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers.

Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel finished with 33 points on seven 3-pointers, giving him 193 made 3s for the season — the second most in NBA history by a rookie. Keegan Murray holds the record with 206 set in the 2022-23 season.

LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each had 18 points and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte.

Miller's and-one layup off a no-look feed from Ball cut Cleveland's lead to four with a minute remaining, but Mitchell made a short jumper and four free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the win.

The Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and looked like they were preparing to break the game open, but Knueppel began to heat up, finishing with four 3s and 16 points in the first half to cut Cleveland's lead in to six. Charlotte took the lead late in the third quarter behind three more Knueppel 3s.

But Mitchell began to take over with his physical play. He got to the line 13 times and made 12 free throws.

Charlotte played without suspended forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate and Grant Williams, who sat out with knee injury management forcing them to play younger, less experienced players in the frontcourt.

The Cavaliers outscored the Hornets 50-28 in the paint.

The Hornets have now lost three of their last four games after winning nine straight games just before the All-Star break.

Cavaliers: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Hornets: At Washington on Sunday night.

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Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, center, drives to the basket against against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis (14) and center Thomas Bryant, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball shoots against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, left, looks to pass the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppe, right,l during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, front right, drives between Cleveland Cavaliers guards James Harden, left, and Sam Merrill, back right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alondes Williams had career highs with 25 points and 10 rebounds in his 11th NBA game and the Washington Wizards swept a back-to-back set with the Indiana Pacers with a 131-118 victory Friday night.

Sharife Cooper matched his career high with 18 points for Washington, which moved two games above Indiana at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and a half-game in front of Brooklyn, which played later at Oklahoma City.

Jay Huff scored 22 points and tied a career best with five 3-pointers for Indiana. The Pacers finished 2-4 on a six-game trip.

Quenton Jackson added 21 points for Indiana. Micah Potter had 18, and Jarace Walker added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Indiana's Pascal Siakam missed a second consecutive game to manage a nagging left hamstring injury. Washington's Kyshawn George sat with a sprained left toe after playing 19 minutes in Thursday night.

Williams, a fourth-year pro who signed a 10-day contract Monday, finished 9 of 11 from the floor and made all five of his free throws. The 26-year-old scored 11 points in a fourth quarter that began with the teams tied at 92.

He finished his night by converting an alley-oop dunk off Cooper's feed, feeding Cooper for a transition layup and then making his second 3-pointer with just over a minute to play.

Pacers: Host Dallas on Sunday.

Wizards: Host Charlotte on Sunday.

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

Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) looks to shoot against Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter, right, and Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill, left, battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards forward Tristan Vukcevic (00) goes to the basket against Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill (16) dunks over Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards guard Alondes Williams (31) dunks over Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter (11) and guard Kam Jones (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)