NBA: Evan Mobley powers Cavaliers past Jazz

Evan Mobley scored a season-high 34 points, grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds, and blocked three shots to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-113 win over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Monday night.

Donovan Mitchell also contributed 34 points as Cleveland (47-28) secured its fifth consecutive road victory. James Harden added 13 points and a game-high 14 assists. The Cavaliers dominated inside, outscoring Utah 82-40 in the paint.

For Utah, Kyle Filipowski posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Cody Williams led the team with 26 points. Ace Bailey scored 19 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 18. The Jazz (21-55) have now lost six straight games and 10 of their past 11.

Utah briefly closed a 15-point gap in the third quarter, making six of seven 3-pointers. John Konchar capped the rally with a basket that brought the Jazz within 87-84. Mitchell responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to maintain Cleveland’s lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Jazz took a 105-103 lead midway through the fourth on Bailey’s driving layup, but Cleveland went ahead for good when Mobley converted consecutive three-point plays during a 14-1 run, putting the Cavaliers up 117-106 with 3:14 remaining.

Cleveland’s dominance in the paint was evident from the start, with 20 of their first 24 points coming near the basket. By halftime, the Cavaliers led Utah 46-18 in points in the paint.

Mobley’s interior presence fueled a 13-0 run early in the second quarter, starting with a running dunk. Mitchell finished the run with a layup to put Cleveland up 44-30. Utah briefly narrowed the gap to 48-44 after a 14-4 run capped by Filipowski’s back-to-back baskets, but the Jazz could not overtake the Cavaliers.

Mitchell banked in a jumper as the halftime buzzer sounded, completing a 12-5 run and giving Cleveland a 63-53 lead at the break. Mobley added three dunks in the second quarter alone, continuing his league-leading average of 3.0 dunks per game.

—Field Level Media/Reuters