Cavaliers rout Wizards 148-114 to improve to 1-1 in NBA Cup

Cavaliers Rout Wizards 148-114 to Improve to 1-1 in NBA Cup

The Cleveland Cavaliers secured their third consecutive victory after losing their NBA Cup opener to Toronto last week. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 24 points, while Darius Garland contributed 20 points and nine assists in a commanding 148-114 win against the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

Game Highlights and Team Performance

Cleveland came just one point short of tying their franchise record for points scored in a regulation game, which is 149 points set in a win over Denver last December. Their highest scoring game overall remains a 154-153 quadruple-overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers in January.

The Cavaliers also previously scored 148 points at home during a December 1991 victory over Miami. Their current winning streak follows a loss at home where Mitchell missed the game due to hamstring tightness.

Wizards Struggle Continues

CJ McCollum led the Wizards with 25 points, scoring 20 in the first half during their East Group A opener. However, Washington has now dropped seven consecutive games, bringing their record to 1-8.

Both teams will host games on Saturday to complete their back-to-back schedules.

Second Half and Player Contributions

Two days prior, Mitchell scored a season-high 46 points in a win over Philadelphia. In this game, Garland and Sam Merrill propelled Cleveland to a 76-59 halftime lead, extending it to 109-86 after three quarters.

Garland returned to action after missing the first seven games recovering from big toe surgery. In his recent debut against the 76ers, he scored eight points with four assists. He and Merrill both added 14 points in the first half of this matchup.

"Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Darius Garland had 20 points and nine assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Washington Wizards 148-114 on Friday night to improve to 1-1 in NBA Cup play."

Summary: The Cavaliers improved to 1-1 in the NBA Cup with a strong offensive display, overcoming a slow start to maintain a three-game winning streak while the Wizards continue to struggle.

WFMJ — 2025-11-08