Mitchell Closes the Door: Cavaliers Survive Hornets’ Charge, Win 7th Straight
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Donovan Mitchell has been here before. Down the stretch, with the game in the balance, the Cleveland Cavaliers needed their star to deliver. Mitchell answered, scoring 13 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter to help Cleveland hold off a spirited Charlotte Hornets squad, 118-113, on Friday night at Spectrum Center. The victory extended Cleveland’s winning streak to seven games and improved their record to 12 wins in their last 13 outings — a stretch of play that has firmly positioned the Cavaliers among the NBA’s elite.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Cavaliers Come Out Sharp
Cleveland wasted no time asserting itself on the road, outscoring Charlotte 30-20 in the opening frame. The Cavaliers moved the ball efficiently and converted at a strong clip, while the Hornets struggled to generate offense in the early going. A 10-point cushion after 12 minutes set the tone for what Cleveland hoped would be a comfortable night — though Charlotte had other ideas.
Second Quarter: Hornets Fight Back
Charlotte came alive in the second quarter, outscoring Cleveland 33-29 to trim the deficit to six points heading into halftime, 59-53. The Hornets found their footing offensively and showed a willingness to push the tempo, forcing Cleveland to work harder on the defensive end. Rookie guard Kon Knueppel was particularly active in this stretch as Charlotte began to build momentum.
Third Quarter: Hornets Take the Lead Back on the Scoreboard
Charlotte’s momentum carried into the third quarter, where the Hornets had their best period of the night, outscoring Cleveland 36-31. That frame cut into the Cavaliers’ lead and kept the home crowd of 19,691 engaged. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers led 90-89 — a one-point game — with everything still very much up for grabs.
Fourth Quarter: Mitchell Takes Over
With the game on the line, Donovan Mitchell stepped up when it mattered most. He poured in 13 of his 32 points in the final frame, helping Cleveland outscore Charlotte 28-24 in the fourth and ultimately close out the victory. The Hornets kept fighting, but Cleveland’s poise and Mitchell’s shot-making proved to be the difference over the final 12 minutes.
Key Performers
Donovan Mitchell — Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell was the story of the night. His 32-point performance was defined not just by its volume but by its timing. The All-Star guard was at his best in the moments Cleveland needed him most, delivering 13 critical fourth-quarter points to help seal the road win. This type of clutch production has become a calling card for Mitchell as the Cavaliers continue their surge through the schedule.
Kon Knueppel — Charlotte Hornets
The young Hornets guard put together a standout performance in a losing effort, finishing as Charlotte’s leading scorer with 33 points and adding 6 rebounds. His rating as the top performer on the Hornets’ side — with a stat line of 33 PTS and 6 REB — signals continued development for one of Charlotte’s most promising young players. Knueppel gave Cleveland’s defense real problems throughout the night.
Ryan Kalkbrenner — Charlotte Hornets
Center Ryan Kalkbrenner was Charlotte’s best player on the boards, hauling in a team-high 13 rebounds. His interior presence gave the Hornets a physical anchor in the paint, as Charlotte finished the game with a robust 45 team rebounds. Despite the strong individual effort, it wasn’t enough to overcome Cleveland’s balanced attack.
Sion James — Charlotte Hornets
Guard Sion James led Charlotte’s offense as a facilitator, piling up a team-high 7 assists. James did a solid job of keeping the Hornets’ attack organized, helping Charlotte put up 26 total assists on the night — a respectable number that reflected their ball movement despite the loss.
Game Analysis
This game revealed both the ceiling and the floor of these two franchises in their current states. Cleveland proved, once again, that they are a team built to navigate adversity on the road. After Charlotte clawed all the way back to make it a one-point game entering the fourth quarter, a lesser team might have buckled. Instead, the Cavaliers leaned on Mitchell and closed out the contest methodically.
From a team statistics standpoint, Charlotte actually had some impressive numbers. The Hornets pulled down 45 rebounds, connected on 20 three-pointers, and shot an excellent 95.5% from the free-throw line (21-of-22). On paper, those are winning numbers in most games. The issue was field goal efficiency: Charlotte shot just 39.1% from the floor overall on 92 attempts — a rate that proved too costly against a Cleveland team that knows how to protect leads in the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers’ ability to win a game on the road in which they were outscored by a combined 15 points over the middle two quarters speaks to their resilience and their trust in Mitchell as a closer. Cleveland did not get blown out in those quarters — they absorbed Charlotte’s runs and came back in the fourth with focus and execution.
Context and Standings Implications
With this victory, the Cleveland Cavaliers have now won 12 of their last 13 games — a run of form that speaks to one of the more consistent stretches of basketball in the NBA this season. Seven straight wins is a meaningful streak at this stage of the year, and Cleveland continues to strengthen its position in the Eastern Conference standings heading toward the playoff stretch.
For the Charlotte Hornets, the loss drops them to 26-31 on the season. Despite the defeat, Charlotte showed genuine fight in this game — the second and third quarters were competitive and entertaining — and Kon Knueppel’s 33-point showing is an encouraging sign for a young team still building toward the future. The Hornets will look to bounce back in their next outing, while Cleveland rolls forward with one of the hottest records in the league.
