Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies fights with Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 02, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. Both players were ejected.The Cavaliers defeated the Grizzlies 128-113. Jason Miller/Getty Images/AFP
Darius Garland had 32 points and 11 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame star Donovan Mitchell’s third-quarter ejection to beat the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 128-113 on Thursday.
Cedi Osman scored 21 points for Cleveland, which moved 10 games over .500 and improved to 22-6 at home. Jarrett Allen contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, Evan Mobley tallied 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Ricky Rubio scored 13.
🔥 32 PTS
🔥 11 AST
🔥 4 Threes
Darius Garland leads the Cavs to victory. pic.twitter.com/UhKRNTLDTI
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2023
Desmond Bane scored 25 points for Memphis, while Ja Morant added 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Santi Aldama had a career-high 21 points plus 10 rebounds, while Brandon Clarke scored 10.
The Grizzlies have lost six straight road games and seven of their last eight overall.
With 5:48 left in the third quarter and the Cavaliers leading by five, Mitchell and Memphis’ Dillon Brooks were ejected following a tussle under the basket.
Mitchell had six points on 2-of-11 shooting, while Brooks left with nine points.
Cleveland carried a 99-87 lead into the fourth quarter before scoring the first five points of the period for its largest lead of the game to that point.
Memphis trailed 118-98 midway through the fourth quarter after Rubio scored eight points during a 13-5 run.
Garland scored 14 points in the first quarter to help Cleveland take a 30-26 lead.
Morant headed to the bench after picking up his third foul with 4:26 left in the half and the Grizzlies trailing by six. Cleveland capitalized with a 14-7 run to close the half and entered the break with a 67-54 advantage.
Aldama started in place of Jaren Jackson Jr. (right thigh soreness) and scored 16 points in the first half. Garland had 19 points to lead all scorers.
Cleveland avenged a 115-114 loss to Memphis on Jan. 18 by shooting 53.8 percent, including 14 of 29 (48.3 percent) from 3-point range.
Cleveland played without guard Caris LeVert, who is listed as day-to-day with right hamstring soreness.