March 13, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) dunks over Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Evan Mobley scored 23 of his season-high 29 points in the first half and Donovan Mitchell had 24 points and eight assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 138-105 win over the host Dallas Mavericks in the first game of a home-and-home set on Friday.
James Harden had 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and the Cavaliers improved to 24-10 since Dec. 29 and remained firmly in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The teams play again Sunday in Cleveland.
Rookie of the Year candidate Cooper Flagg scored 25 points and Najee Marshall had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Mavericks, who have lost nine of their last 10 and are 3-19 since Jan. 24. Ryan Nemhard had eight points and nine assists.
The Cavaliers’ biggest lead came midway through the fourth quarter on a baby hook shot by Thomas Bryant, who had 11 points off the bench, making it 129-94. Cleveland took advantage of the absence of Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, scoring 72 points in the paint.
Dallas’ Klay Thompson went 0-of-5 and made 3-pointers for the 49th consecutive game.
On the third play, the officials allowed Dallas to inbound the ball into the wrong basket after a timeout. The error was corrected after Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson warned that it should have been his team’s ball.
The Cavaliers were in command at the break 67-50 thanks to 60.9% shooting from the field. Mobley made 10 of 12 field goal attempts, Marshall had 12 points and Flagg struggled to 6 points.
Marshall scored Dallas’ first eight points, but that advantage was short-lived as Mobley poured in 16 points in the opening seven minutes to put Cleveland up 20-14. The Cavaliers pushed their lead to 38-21 on a stretch.
PJ Washington Jr. (left ankle soreness) and Gafford (rest) were sidelined after combining for 34 points in Dallas’ 120-112 win at the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.
The Cavaliers were without center Jarrett Allen (right knee tendonitis) for the fourth straight game. Swingman Sam Merrill was inactive due to left hamstring tightness.
–Field level media
