Cavaliers win battle of NBA's hottest teams by beating Clippers in Evan Mobley's return

CLEVELAND — A battle between the NBA's two hottest teams was waged Monday night, and the Cavaliers defeated the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 118-108.

The Cavs (28-16) have gone 15-4 since Dec. 16, the day after the organization announced forward Evan Mobley (knee surgery) and point guard Darius Garland (jaw surgery) would miss a substantial chunk of the season.

But the Clippers (30-15) entered Monday 16-4 since Dec. 16.

Mobley returned to game action Monday for the first time since Dec. 6. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Dec. 18 and missed the last 22 games. He was listed on the Cavs' injury report as questionable to face the Clippers, and he started as expected.

Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Monday during his pregame media availability Mobley would be restricted to 20-24 minutes — "somewhere around there."

Mobley played 21 minutes and finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 28 points and 12 assists. Center Jarrett Allen had a double-double, too, with 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 30 points.

Garland was ruled out for the 19th consecutive game, but Bickerstaff said Garland is "extremely close" to returning.

The Cavs have won 10 of their last 11 games.

Tipoff occurred shortly after 7 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Below are updates from throughout the game.

Cavaliers hold off Clippers in crunch time

Amir Coffey's three-point play off a James Harden steal against Isaac Okoro cut the Cavs' lead to 112-108 with 1:34 remaining.

Mitchell made a crucial jump shot with 1:09 left. Allen virtually sealed the win with a layup with 37.2 seconds left, even though he missed a free throw for a would-be three-point play.

Clippers forward Paul George involved in key fourth-quarter fouls

After Paul George made 1 of 2 free throws on a phantom foul called on Cavs guard Max Strus, the Cavs attacked the basket on consecutive possessions and drew fouls by George.

The second call was confirmed by a replay review after the Clippers challenged it. The verification meant George fouled out with 3:07 left.

Mitchell missed both free throws, keeping the Cavs' lead at 111-104. Allen made both foul shots after the previous George foul.

Cavs take 102-90 lead vs. Clippers during the fourth quarter

The public address announcer inadvertently started a "defense" chant when the Cavs had the ball. No worries, though. Guard Max Strus made a 3-pointer. Then sixth man Caris LeVert made a fast-break layup off a defensive stop.

After the sequence, the Clippers trailed 102-90 and called timeout with 8:17 left.

Below is some information about the third quarter.

Jarrett Allen records double-double, Caris LeVert makes a buzzer-beater and the Cavs lead 88-81 at end of third quarter

Allen reached a double-double in the third quarter, giving him 15 in as many games. And the Cavs led the Clippers 88-81 after LeVert made a buzzer-beater jump shot to end the third quarter.

Allen entered the fourth quarter with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Last week, Allen set the franchise record for consecutive double-doubles with his 12th in a row.

Mitchell also registered a double-double during the third quarter. He had 23 points and 11 assists heading into the fourth quarter. He now has six double-doubles, a new single-season career best.

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell trade highlights in third quarter

With the shot clock nearly expired, Leonard fired a 3-pointer from the left corner of the baseline over Mitchell and made it. The shot gave the Clippers a 73-72 lead with 4:03 left in the third quarter.

Mitchell immediately answered, though, with a three-point play after being fouled by Russell Westbrook on a layup and making the foul shot.

Clippers went to foul line early and often in the second half vs. the Cavs

The Clippers used multiple trips to the free-throw line, including one as a result of a technical foul called on Strus, to seize a third-quarter lead.

The Cavs trailed 65-64 after Leonard drew a foul at the rim from Mobley and made both foul shots. The Clippers made their first nine foul shots of the second half.

On the next possession, forward Dean Wade made a 3-pointer to give the Cavs a 67-65 edge.

Below is some information about the second quarter.

Cavs earned 56-52 advantage over Clippers at halftime with Isaac Okoro leading the way

Okoro made a 3-pointer with 1 second left in the second quarter to finish a strong individual performance in the first half and give the Cavs a 56-52 lead over the Clippers at halftime.

Okoro had 17 points in the first half on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers. Okoro's previous career best for scoring in a first half was 15 points on Dec. 11, 2021, versus the Sacramento Kings.

Okoro didn't score for the rest of the game, though Mitchell declared after the game Okoro should be an an NBA All-Defensive Team selection.

Mitchell compiled 14 points, six assists, three rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot through two quarters.

Leonard led the Clippers with 14 points, and guard Norman Powell scored 10 points.

Cavs respond to early second-quarter rally by Clippers

The Clippers outscored the Cavs 11-2 to start the second quarter.

But Okoro's 3-pointer gave Cleveland a jolt and cut its deficit to 36-33 with 9:11 left in the second quarter. A dunk by Mobley made it Clippers 36-35, leading Los Angeles to call timeout with 8:21 remaining in the second quarter.

Okoro made the first two of his three 3-pointers. His second successful 3-pointer tied the score 38-38 with 7:28 left in the second quarter.

But Coffey's four-point play with 6:41 left in the second quarter put the Clippers ahead 42-38. Georges Niang fouled him on a 3-pointer.

Below is some information about the first quarter.

Cavs use run to create a bit of separation from the Clippers and lead 28-25 at the end of the first quarter

Back-to-back 3 pointers by Mitchell and Niang fueled an 8-2 Cavs run, prompting the Clippers to call timeout with 3:21 left in the first quarter while facing a 24-17 deficit.

With 2:55 remaining in the first quarter, the Cavs extended their run to 10-2 when Mobley scored for the first time in his return by dunking an alley-oop pass from Mitchell.

The Cavs led 28-25 at the end of the opening quarter. Mitchell led the Cavs with 10 points, four assists and a blocked shot in the first quarter.

Donovan Mitchell's behind-the-back pass highlights first half of the opening quarter between Cavs and Clippers

The Cavs led 11-10 with 5:52 left in the first quarter when Mitchell used a nifty behind-the-back pass to give Okoro a chance at the rim.

Leonard met Okoro there and fouled him. Okoro made free throws to give the Cavs a 13-10 advantage.

Below is some pregame information.

What is the injury report for the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Los Angeles Clippers?

Aside from Mobley and Garland, the Cavs' injury report was as follows: Mitchell (groin) was listed as probable to play — and he did play — and backup point guard Ty Jerome (right ankle surgery) was ruled out.

A free-agent acquisition this past offseason, Jerome has appeared in just two games this season and is sidelined indefinitely. Last week, the Cavs announced Jerome underwent arthroscopic surgery Jan. 23 to treat a right ankle impingement, which has kept him idle since Oct. 28.

Cavs backup center Tristan Thompson missed his third consecutive game as part of a 25-game suspension.

The Clippers ruled out starting center Ivica Zubac (calf strain) and backup center Moussa Diabate (fractured hand).

What is the history between the Cavs and Clippers?

The Cavs are now 78-59 in their all-time series with the Clippers.

The Cavs are 50-21 at home against the Clippers. The teams split the series last season, with each one winning at home.

What connections do the Cavaliers and Clippers have?

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue held the same job with the Cavs from 2016-18, helping Cleveland win the NBA championship in 2016.

Lue's assistant coach Larry Drew was on his Cleveland staff and served as interim coach during the 2018-19 season after Lue was fired.

Dahntay Jones, another Clippers assistant coach, played two seasons for the Cavs spanning 2015-17.

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How can I watch, stream or listen to Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Clippers?

The game was televised locally on Bally Sports Ohio and broadcast on the radio via WTAM (1100-AM), WMMS (100.7-FM) and WNZN (89.1-FM).

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs defeat Los Angeles Clippers in Evan Mobley's return from injury