Mitchell scores 42 as Cavaliers defeat Magic 136-131 to extend winning streak to 4 games

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 42 points, James Harden added 26 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 136-131 Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to four games.

It is Mitchell’s sixth game with at least 40 points this season, tied for fourth-most in the league.

The All-Star guard also continued his mastery of the Magic. It was his third 40-point game in 23 regular-season meetings against Orlando. He is averaging 27.2 against the Magic, the sixth-highest scoring average of any player in NBA history against Orlando.

Harden, who was scoreless in the first half of Saturday’s game at New Orleans, had 22 points and three 3-pointers in the first half as the Cavaliers had a 72-68 lead at halftime. It was his most points in the first two quarters since being acquired by the Cavaliers.

Evan Mobley had 19 points for Cleveland, making all eight of his shots from the field, along with nine rebounds and six assists.

Paolo Banchero had 36 points for Orlando (38-34), which has dropped six straight and dropped into a three-way tie with Charlotte and Miami for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Tristan da Silva had 18 points, while Desmond Bane and Jamal Cain scored 17 apiece for the Magic.

The Cavaliers (45-27) are 2 1/2 games behind the Knicks for third in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland had a 114-103 lead with 9:19 remaining before Orlando started to slowly rally back. Wendell Carter Jr. sank a pair of free throws with 37.5 seconds remaining but Mitchell drove the lane and hit a floating 7-foot jumper with 13.7 seconds left to give the Cavaliers breathing room.

Banchero scored 16 in the first quarter as Orlando went up 39-32 after 12 minutes. He was 5 of 7 from the field in the first quarter but 5 of 12 the rest of the game.

Magic: Host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.

Cavaliers: Host the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

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

Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane, left, goes to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) and guard Sam Merrill, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant (3) dunks over Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) shoots as Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant (3) shouts after dunking over Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Martin Necas scored twice, Nathan MacKinnon poured in his NHL-leading 46th goal and the Colorado Avalanche breezed past the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Necas, Sam Malinski and Parker Kelly scored within a 1:55 span late in the first period to break it open as the Avalanche atoned for one-sided loss to the Penguins last week in Denver by returning the favor in Pittsburgh. Cale Makar picked up the assist on Necas' first goal, boosting his career point total to 499. Ross Colton scored an empty-netter late.

Scott Wedgewood stopped 27 shots for the NHL-leading Avalanche, who have won the first three games of a four-game road swing that finishes up in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Egor Chinakov and Rickard Rakell scored for Pittsburgh. Kris Letang picked up the secondary assist on Chinakov’s career-high 17th goal of the season, becoming the 21st defenseman in league history to reach 800 career points.

Arturs Silovs struggled to contain Colorado early and finished with 23 saves for the Penguins, who have dropped three of four to lose a bit of ground in the crowded scramble for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Pittsburgh played without veteran forward Evgeni Malkin, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 39-year-old Russian star powered the Penguins' dominant performance in Colorado last week, scoring twice in his return from a five-game suspension.

The only fireworks this time around were provided by the Avalanche. MacKinnon set the tone early, stealing the puck from Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon and then racing in alone on Silovs before flicking a shot over the goaltender's glove to give Colorado the lead 4:57 into the first.

Chinakov tied it just over three minutes later when his one-timer from the slot pushed his goal total since being acquired by Pittsburgh to 14.

It didn't last. The Avalanche erupted late in the period to take a three-goal lead, and the Penguins never recovered. Pittsburgh appeared to get back in it in the middle of the second period, but Justin Brazeau's goal from his belly was overturned on a Colorado challenge after officials ruled Brazeau interfered with Wedgewood.

Avalanche: Start a home-and-home set with the Jets in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Penguins: Visit Ottawa on Thursday.

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

Colorado Avalanche's Sam Malinski (70) celebrates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates with Martin Necas after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) can't get his stick on the puck in front of Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) with Brett Kulak (27) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Avalanche's Martin Necas (88) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) puts a shot behind Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)