Donovan Mitchell scored 16 of his 42 points in the third quarter and James Harden had 26 points and seven assists, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 136-131 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
Paolo Banchero had 36 points, going 13-for-15 from the foul line, and Tristan da Silva scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth for the Magic (38-34). Orlando lost its sixth in a row — immediately after winning seven straight — to fall into a tie for eighth in the East.
The Magic, who trailed by 11 early in the fourth, pulled within 131-128 with 37.5 seconds left on two free throws from Wendell Carter Jr. before Mitchell followed with a short jumper and Cleveland’s Sam Merrill tacked on a free throw.
Banchero drilled a 3-pointer to get Orlando back within one possession at 134-131 with 1.1 seconds remaining, but Mitchell made two foul shots to ice the win. It was Mitchell’s sixth 40-plus point game of the season.
Desmond Bane and Jamal Cain each had 17 points for the Magic, while Wendell Carter Jr. and Jevon Carter scored 15 points apiece.
Merrill put up 19 points for the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers made 11 of their first 14 shots in the second quarter, two of them 3-pointers by Harden, to take a six-point lead. Harden converted a four-point play in the final second of the half, sending the hosts into the break ahead 72-68.
Cleveland played without Jarrett Allen (knee), Jaylon Tyson (toe) and Craig Porter Jr. (groin).
Magic point guard Jalen Suggs (illness) missed his second game in a row.
Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley became the 115th coach in NBA history to amass 400 career games.
