Donovan Mitchell and James Harden power the Cavaliers past the Pelicans 111-106

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and James Harden, held scoreless in the first half, added 20 second-half points to power the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 111-106 comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.

Cleveland trailed 88-76 entering the final period, but outscored the Pelicans 35-18 in the fourth — with Harden scoring 13 and Mitchell 12 in the quarter. It was the Cavaliers’ eighth victory in their last nine games against New Orleans, which had its seven-game home winning streak snapped.

Harden made three 3-pointers and a layup in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to spark an 18-7 run, and the Cavs took the lead for good, 100-99, on a layup by Max Strus, during a 15-7 surge.

Zion Williams, who picked up three early fouls and was quiet offensively in the first half, scored 15 of his team-high 25 points in the third quarter. In a 2:16 span of the third, Williamson scored 11 points and assisted on a 3-pointer by Saddiq Bey in the left corner during a 14-2 run that gave the Pelicans a 72-61 lead. Bey finished with 19.

The Cavaliers’ defense crowded Trey Murphy away from the 3-point line, and Herb Jones, not normally a threat from long range, went 4 of 10 from deep for 12 first-half points as New Orleans took a 56-53 halftime lead.

Cleveland raced to a 31-18 lead on the strength of Mitchell’s nine first-quarter points and 10 team assists on 12 made field goals, but New Orleans closed the period on a 10-0 run.

Harden, who scored a team-high 36 points in a 115-110 victory over Chicago on Thursday, had five assists in the first half.

Cavaliers: Host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

Pelicans: Play at the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

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

New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley battle under the basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) works the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) loses the ball as he is fouled while driving to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) passes around New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NEW YORK (AP) — Patrick Roy was fired as coach of the New York Islanders on Sunday, another late-season change in the NHL that comes with a team in the middle of a spring tailspin that has put their playoff chances in jeopardy.

First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the abrupt decision to part ways with Roy and name Peter DeBoer his replacement with four games left in the season. The Islanders have lost four in a row and seven of their past 10 games, going from comfortably in a playoff spot to needing help down the stretch in a competitive Eastern Conference race.

Roy is the second NHL coach fired over the past eight days. The Vegas Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy and hired John Tortorella on an interim basis a week ago.

DeBoer is taking the job full-time, fresh off serving as an assistant on Canada's staff at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 57-year-old has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup Final and most recently coached the Dallas Stars to three consecutive trips to the Western Conference final before being fired last year following their latest exit.

Roy, a Hall of Fame goaltender, was hired by former GM Lou Lamoriello in January 2024 as a midseason replacement for fired coach Lane Lambert. Sparked by his arrival, the team made the playoffs that year and lost in the first round to Carolina. Regression has followed since.

Parting ways with Roy comes at crucial point for the organization. Rookie of the year front-runner Matthew Schaefer has been a revelation in his first NHL season at the age of 18, and several other top prospects are on their way.

Roy was in his second job running a team in the league, following a three-year tenure with Colorado from 2013-16 that included winning the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year and abruptly resigning in the middle of the summer.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

FILE - Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer looks on during the third period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

FILE - New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy speaks to members of the media before an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa, File)